By It was an early morning start take two, for pure road racers this morning at Macau, as opening qualifying took centre stage.
On schedule at 08:00 AM (local time), 12:00 AM (UK time), competition proceeded with nine times Guia Circuit Champion, Michael Rutter first out on track.
Four minutes into the session, red flags unfortunately arose, following an incident involving Doncaster’s Mark Goodings, who emerged unscathed.
Post a short delay, action resumed with a shade over forty minutes of Q1 still to run.
Setting the early pace was 2022 King of The Roads Champion Davey Todd, lapping in the low 2-minute 28 seconds’ bracket.
Todd remained at the perch of the live timing screens, as the session entered the golden zone as racers built up for potent bursts of speed.
Despite struggling for a clean lap, free practice pace setter Peter Hickman, put together with under nine minutes of Q1 to take place, a times sheet topping time of 2:27.963 seconds, under 0.4 faster than Todd’s best time.
Todd soon after, got to within 0.050 of a second of Hickman, who would claim Q1 honours?
First to show his hand was former IRRC Champion Todd, setting this week’s first sub 2:27 seconds lap time (2:26.348).
Attaining purple, green sectors, TT lap record holder Hickman looked good to best Todd’s provisional pole setting time.
This proved the case but not by a major margin, with Hickman lapping the imperious Guia Circuit at 2:26.166 seconds.
Just 0.182 covered M1000RR BMW pilots Hickman, Todd at Q1’s finalisation.
Third fastest, following a stirring final timed lap was 55 plate carrier David Datzer, who joined Hickman, Todd in dipping below the 2:27 seconds barrier.
Erno Kostamo finished fourth fastest, Michael Rutter still acclimatising to his new FHO Racing BMW mount placed fifth quickest.
Phil Crowe was a more than creditable sixth quickest, seventh fastest Paul Jordan also looked in good fettle as did top non-Honda pilot, SMT Racing’s Rob Hodson.
Finalising Q1’s top ten were Brian McCormack and current IRRC Superbike Champion Lukas Maurer.
55th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – First Qualifying Result:
1 – Peter Hickman – 2.26.166
2 – Davey Todd – 2.26.348
3 – David Datzer – 2.26.720
4 – Erno Kostamo – 2.28.536
5 – Michael Rutter – 2.28.912
6 – Phil Crowe – 2.29.414
7 – Paul Jordan – 2.30.123
8 – Rob Hodson – 2.30.413
9 – Brian McCormack – 2.30.633
10 – Lukas Maurer – 2.31.156
11 – Julian Trummer – 2.31.631
12 – David Johnson – 2.31.757
13 – Sam West – 2.32.582
14 – Joey Thompson – 2.33.935
15 – Dominic Herbertson – 2.34.145
16 – Kamil Holan – 2.34.596
17 – Josh Brookes – 2.35.090
18 – Michael Evans – 2.35.147
19 – Timothee Monot – 2.36.974
20 – Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams – 2.39.059
21 – Olivier Lupberger – 2.40.283
22 – Nadieh Schoots – 2.41.427
Photo via FHO Racing website
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
