November 17, 2003
DUCATIS 1ST & 2ND IN MACAU GRAND PRIX
A Ducati 1-2 finish at the 37th running of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix saw British Superbike star Michael Rutter take his Renegade Ducati 998 to victory on Saturday, his 2nd successive Macau victory aboard the Ducati Manchester-backed machine. Ducati-mounted John McGuiness followed the Macau expert across the line to take 2nd.
Rutter led the 15-lap race from start to finish beating his closest rival, John McGuinness, riding the Zong Shen Racing-backed Ducati 998, by a little over 5.5 seconds. “I looked back early on and saw McGuinness behind me so I decided to go for a few quick laps and try to break clear,” said Rutter after the race.
Not only did he break clear but in doing so he also broke the lap record by almost a full second. The experienced Ducati star only eased the pace in the closing stages of the race so as to ensure his win after he had felt his soft compound rear tyre was starting to lose traction.
McGuinness, winner of the race in 2001, admitted that he’d tried to stay with Rutter but said that he could not match his pace and, conscious of the fact that he lacked practice aboard the new Ducati, settled for 2nd position, over 6 seconds ahead of the veteran Macau event rider Brian Morrison aboard his Suzuki.
British Supersport rider Stuart Easton might well have taken a podium finish on the ETI Racing Ducati if not for a mistake at the Melco Hairpin in the early stages of the race. Running wide, he lost time when forced to stop to disentangle his Ducati 998 from the trackside barrier. The 20-year-old British rider dropped from 3rd to 16th but battled back through the field to finish an impressive 5th place on his first-ever ride aboard the Ducati Superbike.
Note: The Macau Grand Prix is not part of the world championship series. Originally conceived in 1954 as an amateur event for local motoring enthusiasts, the Macau Grand Prix is today a very prestigious race meeting that attracts entries from all over the world.
MACAU RESULTS
Rider Bike Team Gap
1 Rutter Ducati Renegade Racing
2 McGuiness Ducati Zong Shen Racing 5.512
3 Morrison Suzuki SERT 11.396
4 Barth Suzuki Fylde Superbikes 37.149
5 Easton Ducati E.T.I. Racing 47.313
6 Lougher Ducati Zong Shen Racing 52.269
7 Britton Suzuki E.T.I. Racing 1:00.596
8 May Suzuki Team Embry/May 1:03.773
9 Toye Suzuki Lee's Cycle Racing 1:05.421
10 Donald Yamaha Zong Shen Racing 1:15.002
11 Duffus Suzuki Team Pirelli 1:16.163
12 Anstey Triumph Valmoto 1:16.907
13 Jennings Suzuki Matlock Motomax 1:18.703
14 Plater Honda Honda Racing 1:30.851
15 Maeda Honda Honda Dream Racing 1:57.823
16 Parrett Yamaha Team Promotive 2:01.409
17 Perez Yamaha Graves Motorsport 2:02.626
18 Palmer Suzuki Bender Four Star 2:09.347
19 Praia Honda Mavi Sport 2:13.811
20 Mascarenhas Honda Moto Marcelino 2:20.615
21 Chia Yamaha Zong Shen Racing 1 lap
22 Jerzenbeck Suzuki Lucas-Bikersworld 1 lap
23 Percy Yamaha Zong Shen Racing 1 lap
24 Mac Yamaha Zong Shen Racing 1 lap
25 Fernandes Honda Santomar Racing Team 1 lap
26 Leong Yamaha Zong Shen Racing 2 laps
27 Farguhar Suzuki McAdoo Racing 3 laps
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18-Nov-2003, 14:21 
Guido
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