British rider Davey Todd will start the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix in pole position today, having set the fastest time during red flag-interrupted qualifying yesterday. Making his debut for the MGM FHO Racing BMW he was fast throughout the session as he wrestled with former race winner, Finland’s Erno Kostamo, for top spot. He posted a time of 2m 25.563 secs to nudge his Finnish rival from P1.
“It’s a good way to start my career with the team,” said Todd on his first ride for the MGM FHO Racing BMW. “It’s satisfying to qualify ahead of the three guys who have won around here before. I was surprised by the time I set considering the track conditions. It's also a very different BMW to the one I've been riding this season so a big thank you to my team for getting it just right for me today [yesterday]. I'm over the moon.”
In the middle of the front row is Kostamo on the 38 Motorsport by penz13 Racing BMW. He held provisional pole position until he was usurped by Todd, his time a shade slower at 2m 25.820 secs. Earlier in the session his bike blew oil around the track which brought out the red flag for a short period of time.
“The bike had a technical fault,” admitted the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix winner of 2022, “which our mechanics Pekka and VP were able to fix so that we could continue qualifying. The bike feels very good, and my fastest lap came easily without taking unnecessary risks and the riding felt very good. Alpha racing and my mechanics have done a really good job on my bike. This is good to continue to tomorrow's race.”
Britain’s Peter Hickman posted his fastest time of the session on his very last lap which lifted him and the MGM FHO Racing BMW from fourth to third on the timesheets and therefore a front row start. He is looking to win the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix for a fifth time.
“I’ll take that,” said the four-time Macau GP winner. “I tend not to be fast out of the box, I like to build to a quick time but with everything that’s happened this week it’s great to be out on track and we’ve got the MGM FHO Racing BMW in a good place for tomorrow [today].”.
Fellow Briton Michael Rutter will begin Sunday’s 12-lap race from the head of row two. He held a provisional front row position throughout but his MGM FHO Bathams Racing BMW suddenly stopped with time running out.
“Everything was going so well,” says the nine-time winner. “It’s been a very frustrating few days with everything that’s been going on so it was great to be on the bike around this wonderful racetrack. It’s my 30th anniversary at Macau and while it would have been great to celebrate with a front row start, we’ll just see how things go tomorrow. The bike will be working properly again then and I’m confident we can do something magic.”
Joining Rutter on row two are SMT Racing’s Robert Hodson of Britain and Jackson Racing powered by Prosper2’s Paul Jordan of Britain as well.
Due to adverse weather conditions, the 56th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix was postponed from yesterday to today, while its practice and qualifying races were delayed from Friday to yesterday.
- MGPOC, MPD
Caption: Britain's Davey Todd competes in yesterday's 57th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix on the Macau Peninsula's Guia Circuit yesterday. - Photo courtesy of MGPOC
