By Post yesterday’s disappointment, racing finally commenced for the two-wheel racing community at Macau, with race action starting just past 08:10 AM local time.
Quickest out of the blocks, grabbing an early race lead was ex World Supersport front runner Sheridan Morais.
By the completion of lap one Morais maintained first whilst just over 1.5 seconds covered the top five.
Across lap two, the battle for first continued in earnest with Morais tenaciously keeping at bay pole-sitter Erno Kostamo and IRRC Superbike Championship runner-up David Datzer.
Positions out front remained the same up till Melco on lap three, as Kostamo took P1, closely followed by Penz 13 team-mate Datzer.
Just 0.741 was all that separated Kostamo, Datzer, Morais at lap three’s finalisation.
Prior pace setter Morais on lap four was dropped by his fellow Penz 13 team members, with Kostamo, Datzer pulling clear.
There wasn’t much in it at all till lap six, when Kostamo made a decisive move, injecting a potent burst of speed.
Setting the races’ fastest lap, lapping at 2 minutes 27.493 seconds, the Finnish ace had opened up a nigh-on four second advantage over Datzer.
From here Imatranajo conqueror Kostamo, kept his cool to ultimately take 54th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix honours, by the impressive margin of 8.262 seconds.
He is the first rider from Finland to clinch the Macau GP title and is the first non UK racer to emerge victorious since Andreas Hofmann in 1997.
Top newcomer Datzer was delighted with second whilst third place finisher Morais, was equally pleased.
Lukas Maurer placed top Kawasaki runner in fourth, Rob Hodson get the better of WH Racing’s Julian Trummer for fifth after a late race surge.
Wrapping up the first ten finishers were Portugal’s Andre Pires, Raul Torras Martinez, Joey Thompson and Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams, who incurred a 30 seconds time penalty, due to a jump start.
54th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – Race Result:
1st – Erno Kostamo
2nd – David Datzer
3rd – Sheridan Morais
4th – Lukas Maurer
5th – Rob Hodson
6th – Julian Trummer
7th – Andre Pires
8th – Raul Torras Martinez
9th – Joey Thompson
10th – Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams
11th – Laurent Hoffmann
12th – Nadieh Schoots
Photo credit: GCS
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
