By Davey Todd topped the timesheets in free practice for the 57th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, finishing two seconds ahead of 8TEN Racing teammate Peter Hickman, followed by SMT Racing’s Rob Hodson in third.
The session was red flagged for several minutes’ midway through, when a water pipe breakage leaked onto the rear wheel of Michael Sweeney, sending the Irishman into a fall at the long Dona Maria left-hander at the end of the hilltop section. The rider was unhurt, immediately helping to clear debris, though his BMW M1000RR was unable to continue.
Erno Kostamo, victor here at the Guia Circuit in 2022, clocked the fourth fastest time of the session, with Paul Jordan fifth, Macau debutant Mitch Rees a very creditable sixth.
Swiss ace Lukas Maurer, England’s Phil Crowe, Australian Davo Johnson, and Manxman Michael Evans rounded out an international top ten.
Free Practice Reaction:
Pace setter Davey Todd:
“I’m loving being back on a bike I enjoy riding. These are the same settings I use outside the British championship, and it shows what pace I can run at when everything is in the right place.
If I am honest, I’ve surprised myself at the times I’ve posted considering the track is still green as there’s been no action on it. Everything is good.”
His 8TEN Racing team-mate and team co-owner Peter Hickman, four times previously a Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix winner, told reporters:
“I’m happy how things are going so far. It’s no secret that I like to build into a session as opposed to being quick out of the blocks.
Everything feels good, both with me and the bike, in fact, I felt very good when we went back out with twenty minutes to go. It’s all going to plan so far.”
Third fastest Rob Hodson, who posted his fastest time just as the session was concluding, said:
“It’s always a case of just getting back in the groove of the circuit. I’m happy enough to be third fastest overall.
We will make a change to front and rear suspension for tomorrow and a different sprocket could see an improvement.
Considering the limited laps, we’ve done today, we have made good initial progress.”
57th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – Free Practice Result:
1 – Davey Todd – 2.26.210
2 – Peter Hickman – 2.28.451 +2.241
3 – Rob Hodson – 2.28.824 +2.614
4 – Erno Kostamo – 2.29.162 +2.952
5 – Paul Jordan – 2.29.253 +3.043
6 – Mitch Rees – 2.31.338 +5.128
7 – Lukas Maurer – 2.32.072 +5.862
8 – Phil Crowe – 2.32.780 +6.570
9 – David Johnson – 2.33.139 +6.929
10 – Michael Evans – 2.33.241 +7.031
11 – Maurizio Bottalico – 2.35.209 +8.999
12 – Laurent Hoffmann – 2.35.475 +9.265
13 – Michael Sweeney – 2.35.777 +9.567
14 – Sam West – 2.36.632 +10.422
15 – Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams – 2.38.590 +12.380
16 – Don Gilbert – 2.40.355 +14.145
17 – Ryan Whitehall – 2.40.518 +14.308
18 – Amalric Blanc – 2.40.949 +14.739
19 – Eddy Ferre – 2.41.502 +15.292
20 – Marcus Simpson – 2.43.030 +16.820
Words by Tom McGrenery
