By Already looking in ominously strong form at the 2018 Suncity Group Macau Grand Prix, Mountain Course lap record holder Peter Hickman powered this morning UK time to provisional pole position.
Hickman piloting the Smiths Racing prepared Aspire Ho/Bathams Racing backed BMW, was the only rider during the opening qualifying session to dip under the 2 minutes 26 seconds mark, setting an overall best lap time of 2 minutes 25.429 seconds.
Photo by ID
Aspire Ho/Bathams Racing team mate Michael Rutter (2.26.378) the pace setter during the opening practice session, finished second quickest just under a second behind the ever consistent Hickman.
Securing third place on the timing sheets was IRRC Superbike champion Danny Webb (2.28.010), who greatly impressed in outpacing the likes of Martin Jessopp (2.28.746) and Gary Johnson (2.28.829).
Sixth quickest behind Johnson, Jessopp was YZF R1M Yamaha mounted Horst Saiger (2.28.885), whilst seventh fastest David Johnson (2.29.288) aboard the turquoise blue liveried PR Racing BMW, also showed solid, consistent pace.
Wrapping up the ten quickest competitors from this afternoons competition at Macau were Derek Sheils (2.28.358), International roads returnee John McGuinness (2.29.571) and the always cheerful German IRRC legend Didier Grams (2.31.146).
Davey Todd (2.32.676) once again headed the newcomers challenge, finishing a more than creditable 12th fastest. You can’t not but be impressed as well with the exploits of fellow Macau first timers Paul Jordan (2.34.633), Erno Kostamo (2.35.564) and Phil Crowe (2.35.801), who finished respectively 15th, 17th, 18th quickest.
Suncity Group Macau Grand Prix, first qualifying results are as follows:
1 Peter Hickman 2.25.429
2 Michael Rutter 2.26.378
3 Danny Webb 2.28.010
4 Martin Jessopp 2.28.746
5 Gary Johnson 2.28.829
6 Horst Saiger 2.28.885
7 David Johnson 2.29.288
8 Derek Sheils 2.29.358
9 John McGuinness 2.29.571
10 Didier Grams 2.31.146
11 Sam West 2.31.685
12 Davey Todd 2.32.676
13 Marek Cerveny 2.33.193
14 Michael Sweeney 2.34.137
15 Paul Jordan 2.34.633
16 Ben Wylie 2.35.159
17 Erno Kostamo 2.35.564
18 Phil Crowe 2.35.801
19 Steve Heneghan 2.35.908
20 Andre Pires 2.38.028
21 Rob Hodson 2.38.339
22 Daley Mathison 2.38.767
23 Xavier Denis 2.38.997
24 Dominic Herbertson 2.40.042
25 Craig Neve 2.41.549
26 Davy Morgan 2.41.554
Words by Stevie Rial
