Fans and spectators looked to Macau on Saturday in the hope of seeing a special race to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix and what they got was a classic confrontation from the greatest road racers in the world, with Britain’s Peter Hickman (Bathams/SMT BMW) snatching a last-gasp win in a race packed with last-gasp moments.
Pole man Martin Jessopp (Riders Motorcycles BMW), also of Britain, didn’t get the start he needed to secure his first victory on the Guia Circuit, and Briton Michael Rutter (Bathams/SMT BMW) seized the moment, streaking off the line in pursuit of win number nine, with British newcomer Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) also getting away well and Hickman making a great start from the next row.
But Jessopp wasn’t done and soon became the focal point of a battle which raged throughout the opening laps, four riders in a two-second spread; Rutter, Irwin and Jessopp swapping places in the slipstream and under brakes in all the classic overtaking spots, with Hickman right behind.
Peter Hickman (left), Michael Rutter (centre) and Martin Jessopp take the checquered flag with less than a second between first and third in the thrilling 50th Macau Motor Cycle Grand Prix on Saturday. Photo: MGPOC
