This year’s 56th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix) was a complete washout due to the rain Macau experienced over the weekend of the 71st Macau Grand Prix (MGP) with the schedule having been repeatedly changed and the bikers only actually able to get a practice run and one qualifying round on Saturday.
The Free Practice which was originally set to take place at 7:45 a.m. on Thursday was cancelled altogether with no rescheduling arranged, as was the Qualifying 1.
There were on bikes on the circuit on Friday due to the rain so, the practice session and qualifying were moved to Saturday morning rather than a practice session and the final originally scheduled to take place at 7:20 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. that day.
It was then announced that the warmup and 12 lap final would be held at 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. respectively yesterday.
On Sunday morning the rain had started at about 4 a.m. and continued throughout the morning making it impossible for the race to take place, making it the first time in its history that the it had been cancelled.
At 6:58 a.m. the MGP Race Direction Committee declared that, due to Article 4.5 of Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 56th Edition Regulations, the warmup session was cancelled.
The rain was relentless and at 7:32 a.m. the MGP Race Direction Committee declared that due to Article 4.5 of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 56th Edition Regulations, the race was cancelled and in accordance with Article 42.4 the trophies would be given to the top three riders in the qualifying session and the award of best lap would be given to the fastest rider in the qualifying session.
It was also announced that the podium would go ahead at 8:45 a.m. followed by a press conference.
Disappointed bikers
Due to his pole position after qualifying on Saturday, FHO Racing Team’s Davey Todd of Great Britain, second last year, was announced the winner and best lap at 2.25.563, 38 Motorsport by Penz13 Racing’s Erno Kostamo of Finland, previous winner in 2022, was second, and last year’s winner FHO Racing Team’s Peter Hickman of Great Britain was third.
Three glum-looking riders arrived at the Media Room, no sense of celebration, very disappointed at not being able to race.
Todd, said, “It was a shame about the weather, it is not normal for this time of year but it was cool to have two home race riders on the podium.”
Kostamo just said, “It is another podium even in this is crazy Macau weather, but it is good for the team.”
Hickman said, “Well, now I have a full set of trophies for Macau, 1st, 2nd and 3rd. I was surprised to be on the front row yesterday [after Qualifying], I was really looking forward to the race, so now I am thinking about next year.”
Talking to Todd after the press conference, Todd said he was looking forward to next year and hoped to “get this weather behind us”, adding: “I was in for a good race this morning.”
He went on to say, “This is my first race with the team as it was only agreed a couple of weeks ago that I would join them… so Macau wasn’t on the cards for me this year. The boys [mechanics] did an incredible job to build and prepare the bike, so now I am looking forward to 2025,” he said.
He continued, “The organisers did everything they could to make this race happen, they have been the worse conditions they have ever had, and Macau is such a dangerous circuit so we [the racers] respect their decision, they did as much as they could to rearrange the schedule but simply ran out of time. Hopefully the weather will not be the same next year. I think the only time it has rained during a Grand Prix here was in 2008 and 2013, but not like this weekend.”
Todd added that he had only managed to get in eight or nine practice laps and Hickman probably 16, “Not good preparation really.”
The Post also spoke to Hickman who said, “I am really disappointed the race couldn’t go ahead as I was really surprised to be on the front row [on the grid] as I have never been top in qualifying. I am not good in the first qualifying, usually I ride, have a good sleep and do better the next day.”
He went on to say: “I am really looking forward to next year, the weather this year was not at all good, but there could have been a little more flexibility, yesterday [Saturday] was a good time for us to complete the race.”
Hickman said, “Yesterday [Saturday] was not good to race, there was a lot of standing water on the track and some places were quite slick. It wouldn’t be good for the bikes especially after all the problems the cars had with four wheels, the circuit was really slippery.
“Us Brits have brought all the rain with us,” he said with a laugh.
Meanwhile, during qualifying on Saturday, Briton Matt Stevenson came off his bike and was taken to the public Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre where he was diagnosed with cerebral concussion, thoracic spine T12 compressive fracture and multiple abrasions of limbs.
Second placed 38 Motorsport by Penz13 Racing’s Erno Kostamo of Finland (left to right), FHO Racing Team’s British rider, first placed Davey Todd, and third placed fellow Briton Peter Hickman riding for FHO Racing Team pose yesterday under an umbrella in the Media Room of the Macau Grand Prix. – Photo: Lesley Wells
