Watch the highlights, or, do it after you read the whole race report, even though, yes, yours truly kind of gave it away.
This track at Macau is pretty much flat out all the way around, especially from the R corner up through Fishermen's and also through Hotel Lisboa. We are ready for a start in the 47th Macau motorcycle Grand Prix, and 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the event itself. Motorcycles have been racing at Macau since 1966. We're ready for a start.
Polesitter Ian Hutchinson gets the jump on the field. John McGuinness is also flying. These guys will need to, because this is only a 15 lap race. John McGuinness takes the lead as Ian Hutchinson falls down a few places. Michael Rutter is coming forward quickly, too. Jeremy Choy also has a good start. The field is three wide down a very bumpy straightaway.
Gary Johnson outbrakes Michael Rutter into the corner. Johnson is in the lead through Lisboa, but, a rider ditches their bike, too. Two riders are down. One of them is Horst Saiger on his Kawasaki. Saiger will be a familiar name to readers of this blog, because he's competed in the FIM World Endurance Championship for a long time. Hard to tell who the other motorcycle belongs to. Now, will this bring out a safety car? What will the marshals do about this wreck?
Will there be a full course yellow? Is a restart necessary? Three bikes were in that fracas. Maybe Horst Saiger got away unscathed. Davey Morgan was one rider who did manage to avoid the carnage. Meanwhile, Gary Johnson still leads this race over Michael Rutter. This was not expected at the start of the race. It might very well come down to a scrap between Johnson and Rutter, for the win. John McGuinness was running well. However, he got pushed back in a scramble for position into Lisboa.
Jimmy Storrar is also in another battle on track. He's another rider to look out for as the riders turn towards the hairpin at the sea wall. Rutter is right on Johnson's rear tire. Rutter is not close enough to Johnson, as we look at the full field rundown. 18 riders started this race, and here are the positions, with the bike number, and the rider's last name.
1. #5 Johnson
2. #1 Rutter
3. #4 Hutchinson
4. #2 McGuinness
5. #57 Toye
6. #18 Johnston
7. #15 Storrar
8. #40 Jessopp
9. #26 Grams
10. #11 Thompson
11. #8 Stamm
12. #48 Gantner
13. #20 Cooper
14. #10 Miller
15. #44 Hamilton
16. #54 Heneghan
17. #69 Shoesmith
18. #114 Pires
For Lee Johnston, he came to the 2012 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, but couldn't race. 2013 sees him in his first Macau motorcycle race. Rutter wants by Gary Johnson, but he can't get there, going once again, through Lisboa. The lap one wreck is cleared. We are only on lap two and a lot has happened already. The Macau Grand Prix also has car racing, and what it is, is really a mutual admiration society, because the bike racers love watching the car racers, while the car racers totally dig what the motorcyclists can do, too.
We watch from the onboard camera as Gary Johnson and Lee Johnston, battle each other. Check that. Johnston is sixth, right behind the #57 bike of Jeremy Toye, which carries the on board camera. Horst Saiger was the bike involved in the turn one, lap one crash. His bike is not on the timing screens at the moment. For Saiger, it's game over. Jimmy Storrar makes a pass on Lee Johnston through the Melco hairpin. Storrar is right behind Jeremy Toye now.
Johnson, Rutter, and Hutchinson, are the top three riders in the race at this stage. Rutter outbrakes Gary Johnson into the corner off the back straight at Fishermen's. Rutter slides the rear wheel. Gary Johnson wants to make a pass up St. Francisco Hill, but can't do it. Ian Hutchinson pushes into the next corner at Maternity, heading towards the Solitude Esses. Then, they come to a corner named for the founder of the Macau Grand Prix... Indonesian businessman Teddy Yip.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Yip
Moorish Hill is the next obstacle after the Solitude Esses. The riders make their way into Donna Maria. This track is a big hill, or like a staircase. It just keeps going up on one side. Coming through the hairpin, the track begins it's descent. Michael Rutter, continues to lead this race. Ian Hutchinson continues to pursue Gary Johnson. Following those guys, it's Jeremy Toye and Jimmy Storrar. Ian Hutchinson does pass Gary Johnson, moving into second spot.
Ian Hutchinson is flying in this race, on his #4 Milwaukee Yamaha. The order after three laps, looks like this.
1. #1 Rutter
2. #4 Hutchinson
3. #5 Johnson
4. #2 McGuinness
5. #15 Storrar
6. #40 Jessopp
7. #57 Toye
8. #18 Johnston
9. #26 Grams
10. #11 Thompson
11. #10 Miller
12. #20 Cooper
This is the top dozen. Gary Johnson is falling behind Ian Hutchinson, and the gap is growing between second and third. The first sector times are very close. But, it's Michael Rutter who knows this track best. Rutter knows things like, where he can overtake, where his braking points are, where the bumps are. There is a big gap between Gary Johnson and John McGuinness. The bikes runs through Donna Maria, past the barriers, which are unavoidable at Macau.
There are no runoff areas on this course. Meanwhile, Ian Hutchinson is going for it. For the #68 bike of David Johnson, it's game over. Ian Hutchinson is, ever so slightly, catching Michael Rutter. Four laps done. Eleven to go. Each lap, we continue to look at the running order... the full field rundown.
1. #1 Rutter
2. #4 Hutchinson
3. #5 Johnson
4. #2 McGuinness
5. #15 Storrar
6. #40 Jessopp
7. #18 Johnston
8. #57 Toye
9. #26 Grams
10. #11 Thompson
11. #10 Miller
12. #114 Pires
13. #44 Hamilton
14. #20 Cooper
15. #48 Gantner
16. #54 Heneghan
17. #7 Harrison
18. #12 Lougher
19. #69 Shoesmith
20. #83 English
21. #47 Cretu
22. #77 Bitter
23. #60 Wylie
24. #111 McCormack
This is the top 24. We watch some of the runners in the lower half of the field. Andre Pires, Jamie Hamilton, Steve Heneghan, and others. Big names in this championship (Bike Road Racing), Dean Harrison, and Ian Lougher, are also back there, as is Davey Morgan. There are a number of other riders back here. They run through Police corner and back up the hill. Everything is different about the culture, the time, and the food, in Macau, plus the weather change.
The hill after Police corner, is really steep. Michael Rutter and Gary Johnson continue to battle for the top spot. But, for Davey Morgan, it's game over. Just as he was being talked about. It's the commentators curse! Gary Johnson runs third right now. However, it should be noted, the lead battle is hotting up again. Ian Hutchinson begins to close in on Michael Rutter, ever so slightly. Hutchinson is having a go for the race lead. Late on the brakes, Hutchinson does it!
He's in P1 now. Rutter will have to challenge. This race is 1/3rd complete. Five laps down. Ten to go. Hutchinson is 3/10ths of a second ahead of Rutter. That's the gap. Jimmy Storrar continues his solid run in fifth place. Storrar is eight seconds behind the leader, but has only a half a second gap before catching John McGuinness. Michael Rutter is losing time, though. Ian Hutchinson continues to outperform him, as he slightly brushes the wall with his shoulder, leaning into the corner.
It's game over for Steve Heneghan, though, on his #54 Quattro Plant Motorsports bike. There's a battle for seventh between Jeremy Toye and Martin Jessopp. Ian Hutchinson is 1.7 seconds ahead of Michael Rutter, and, he goes purple in the second sector, (fastest of all). Hutchinson is taking no prisoners in this race. He's pushing like there's no tomorrow. Six laps in, here's the standings.
1. #4 Hutchinson
2. #1 Rutter
3. #5 Johnson
4. #15 Storrar
5. #2 McGuinness
6. #40 Jessopp
7. #57 Toye
8. #18 Johnston
9. #26 Grams
10. #11 Thompson
11. #10 Miller
12. #114 Pires
This is the top twelve at the moment. Hutchinson, drags his toe when he walks. People thought something was wrong. It doesn't heart him on the bike. It's part of a past injury from a crash. Gary Johnson still wants by Michael Rutter. We are halfway through this race, working lap seven, of 15 scheduled. Jimmy Storrar makes a pass on John McGuinness. This is Jimmy Storrar's sixth Macau Grand Prix motorcycle race. This is Ian Hutchinson's seventh race at Macau.
Starting lap eight, Ian Hutchinson increases his lead to 2.3 seconds over Michael Rutter. Storrar and McGuinness continue their scrap as we look again, at the standings.
1. #4 Hutchinson
2. #1 Rutter
3. #5 Johnson
4. #15 Storrar
5. #2 McGuinness
6. #40 Jessopp
7. #57 Toye
8. #26 Grams
9. #18 Johnston
10. #11 Thompson
11. #10 Miller
12. #114 Pires
13. #44 Hamilton
14. #7 Harrison
15. #48 Gantner
16. #12 Lougher
17. #69 Shoesmith
18. #20 Cooper
This is the top eighteen. Now, the bikes head back into Lisboa. McGuinness is still going for it. Toye has gotten around Jessopp for the time being, into sixth spot. They brake for the Melco hairpin. McGuinness runs wide into Donna Maria, too. We're just past halfway as Ian Hutchinson continues to lead. Rutter is closing up, as the gap now, is 2.1 seconds. Gary Johnson seems to be fading. He's lost a load of time to the two leaders.
The leaders carry their front wheels, as we have yet another look at the running order in this one as the bikes go through Hospital corner.
1. #4 Hutchinson
2. #1 Rutter
3. #5 Johnson
4. #15 Storrar
5. #2 McGuinness
6. #57 Toye
7. #40 Jessopp
8. #26 Grams
9. #18 Johnston
10. #11 Thompson
11. #10 Miller
12. #114 Pires
13. #44 Hamilton
14. #7 Harrison
15. #48 Gantner
16. #12 Lougher
17. #69 Shoesmith
Can Jeremy Toye catch John McGuinness? Ian Hutchinson is on a Sunday cruise. Can Hutchinson win from pole, and make his comeback complete? Does Rutter have anything to mount a challenge? Hutchinson races towards R Bend. The gap is down under two seconds, starting lap ten. Five laps left now. Rutter is 3.7 seconds behind Hutchinson. Gary Johnson and Jimmy Storrar run third and fourth. Storrar is flying on his BMW S1000RR at the moment.
Here's the running order after nine laps, working lap ten.
1. #4 Hutchinson
2. #1 Rutter
3. #5 Johhson
4. #15 Storrar
5. #2 McGuinness
6. #40 Jessopp
That's the top six. Jimmy Storrar, actually had success in the 2013 British Superstock motorcycle championship. We are now 2/3rds through this one, folks. Ian Hutchinson ran a fast lap of 2:25.4 in qualifying. He's running in the 2:26 range right now, backing down the pace just slightly. Michael Rutter is 3/10ths of a second down, with a best lap of 2:25.7. The gap remains steady, going into the eleventh lap. 1.832 seconds between "Hutchy", and Rutter.
It's a further five and a half seconds between Rutter, and Gary Johnson. We are looking, further down the order, to find Jimmy Storrar, John McGuinness, Martin Jessopp, Jeremy Toye, Didier Grams, and Lee Johnston. Gary Johnson will likely find his way onto the podium. We watch Jeremy Toye, fending off Martin Jessopp. Toye is on the Penz13.com BMW S1000RR. Fans of the FIM World Endurance Championship, will recognize the Penz13 BMW team.
These guys, in the thick of their dust up, are running in the 2:27/2:28 bracket, as far as their lap times. We are starting lap twelve. Only three left to run in this race now. Is Rutter any closer to Hutchinson? Nope. He's 2.4 seconds down, losing a half a second more to the #4 Yamaha. 2:25.7 for Hutchinson. 2:26.3 for Rutter. Rutter wants his ninth win in the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. But, Hutchinson, has other ideas. Here's the running order as of lap 11.
1. #4 Hutchinson
2. #1 Rutter
3. #5 Johnson
4. #2 McGuinness
5. #15 Storrar
6. #57 Toye
Jessopp wants by Toye, going into Lisboa, and he'll make the pass. Put Martin Jessopp up one place. Flames fly from Jessopp's BMW's exhaust pipe. Now, these guys are negotiating lapped traffic. What will this do to their race? Scratch that. It's Hutchinson and the other leaders, dealing with the lapped motorcycles. Andre Pires of Portugal, and another lapped rider, move out of the way, obeying the passing flags.
Hutchinson is in the clear. He's sailing away from Michael Rutter. He goes through Donna Maria, towards the Melco hairpin. No sign of Michael Rutter anyplace. Gary Johnson loses time negotiating the traffic. Could it help John McGuinness pass James Storrar? Two laps remain in the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. He's got a 7.2 second lead. But, there's drama. Yellow flags are on the circuit, and a rider has crashed. The wreck is at Maternity corner. Not sure who the rider is, or what number bike it isCXHVFJFRITORIIGTOWe could see a full course yellow flag, or, a red flag, meaning stoppage, and an early conclusion to this Macau motorcycle race.
Hutchinson is approaching the scene of this crash. He goes around the stricken bike. But, will there be a way to retrieve the motorcycle that's down on course? There's a red flag out from pit wall. This race could very well be over. That's it. Have we gone the distance? Hutchinson is concerned. Have we done 75% race distance? Michael Rutter is already congratulating Hutchinson. Gary Johnson also says, "you'll win this one, man."
The race is over. The bikes are coming into the pits. Now, if they go straight to parc ferme, that's it. The race is done and dusted, and there will be a result. If they cruise up pit lane to the garages, then, there could be a restart for a two lap shootout to the end. Everyone thinks it's over. Watch your screen in the video when you click on it, later in the race, to see. Well, Hutchinson is getting congratulated by his crew in the pits. The race is over. Ian Hutchinson and Milwaukee Yamaha win it! Hutchinson does a burnout in the pits.
#4 Ian Hutchinson GBR Yamaha 1000
Now, the circuit will be returned to the city, and become public roads again. Incidentally, Ian Lougher, he finishes sixteenth in his last ever race, and his last Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. The whole track is opened up, as it's a main thoroughfare for street traffic in the city of Macau. Check out the interview with the podium finishers at the end of the video. This concludes the 2013 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, and the 2013 Bike Road Racing Series season.
There will be more racing action this year in 2014. Yours truly, is not sure he'll be able to bring it to you on the blog. But, do check it out if you can find it. The Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix has been a good one. So long, for now.
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