Rutter On Target For Seventh Macau Motorcyle Grand Prix Title

Written on November 18, 2006 by admin

Michael Rutter launched his bid for a record-breaking seventh Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix title today, finishing top in qualifying to put himself at the front of the grid for Saturday’s race.

Britain’s Rutter failed to improve his results on the Guia street circuit in Friday’s second qualifying session, but his best lap time of 2 minutes and 27.994 seconds during qualifying Thursday was good enough to beat the competition.

The 33-year-old Midlander, riding a Stobart Motorsport Honda 1000, said he wasn’t aiming to top the mark he set Thursday.

“We decided to keep old race tyres and have a full tank of fuel, just to see how the bike would go in race trim rather than try to improve on the quick lap I did yesterday,” Rutter said.

Steve Plater was second fastest today, and John McGuinness finished third on a best lap time of 2 minutes and 29.101 seconds. McGuinness, who won at Macau in 2001, has finished second behind Rutter every year since.

A fourth Brit rider, Ian Hutchinson, was fourth fastest in practice, with a time of 2 minutes and 29.360 seconds. Hutchinson crashed into a barrier during qualifying Friday, but escaped uninjured.

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