By The MGM Bathams squad enjoyed another tumultuous qualifying session at the Suncity Group Macau Grand Prix, as eight times event victor Michael Rutter powered to the top of the Q2 times sheet.
Rutter’s last gasp lap time of 2 minutes 25.382 seconds not only placed him 0.711 ahead of nearest pursuer in second qualifying, David Johnson (2.26.093) it also pushed him close to overhauling meeting team mate Peter Hickman’s Q1 lap time of 2 minutes 25.100 seconds.
Photo credit: ID/Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government
Ultimately it’s 23 times International Road Race winner Hickman who takes overall qualifying honours by the modest margin of 0.282 of a second.
Pre race favourite Hickman, who placed third quickest in Q2 pace within the 45 minute session looked from watching the live feed coverage, to be struggling to find space on track in pursuit of producing a session topping lap time.
As aforementioned David Johnson finished an excellent second fastest whilst PBM Ducati team mate John McGuinness (2.26.352) also showed top calibre form on route to finishing fourth fastest.
Ashcourt Racing’s Lee Johnston (2.27.101) gradually getting back into the groove around the Guia Circuit, placed fifth on the timing screens just over a half second clear of 2017 TT Privateers Champion Horst Saiger (2.27.657).
Wrapping up the ten fastest qualifiers from second qualifying were Erno Kostamo (2.28.249), HP4 Race BMW mounted Gary Johnson (2.28.548), Market Rasen’s Phil Crowe (2.28.649) and 16 times TT winner Ian Hutchinson (2.29.155).
Suncity Group Macau Grand Prix – Second qualifying result is as follows:
1 Michael Rutter 2.25.382
2 David Johnson 2.26.093
3 Peter Hickman 2.26.170
4 John McGuinness 2.26.352
5 Lee Johnston 2.27.101
6 Horst Saiger 2.27.657
7 Erno Kostamo 2.28.249
8 Gary Johnson 2.28.548
9 Phil Crowe 2.28.649
10 Ian Hutchinson 2.29.155
11 Didier Grams 2.29.214
12 Davey Todd 2.29.350
13 Derek Sheils 2.29.366
14 Brian McCormack 2.29.686
15 Marek Cerveny 2.30.668
16 Michael Sweeney 2.30.994
17 Rob Hodson 2.31.044
18 Steve Heneghan 2.31.598
19 Paul Jordan 2.31.882
20 Sam West 2.31.939
21 Andre Pires 2.32.659
22 Craig Neve 2.32.893
23 Dominic Herbertson 2.33.562
24 Dan Kruger 2.34.422
25 Davy Morgan 2.36.044
26 Raul Torras Martinez 2.36.723
Words by Stevie Rial
