Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Notes Regarding The Americans

By Steve Atlas
On Site At Macau

Jeremy Toye had issues with a cracked front wheel, which he found out when he put the new tire on the warmer just before the session. Thus he had to use a front with 30 laps on it as there was no time to mount a new one.

Josh Hayes is getting up to speed quickly, as is Geoff May but both said they rode conservatively after seeing the crash from yesterday. Also, British rider Gus Scott got out of shape ending the final corner, tried to run off into hot pit lane, but hit the outside wall and landed on an embankment, nearly in the ocean. Scott suffered an injured shoulder, but is in stable condition at the local hospital.



More, from a press release issued by series organizers:

John McGuinness and Stuart Easton, the Monstermob Ducati Team duo, topped the qualifying leaderboard for Saturday’s 38th running of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix-Hotel Fortuna at the end of the one-hour timed session at the Far East Classic this morning.

McGuinness, the 32-year-old former bricklayer from Morcambe, Lancashire, and the fastest man ever at the Isle of Man TT races, grabbed pole position early on and never looked like being beaten.

But Easton, the 21-year-old Scot, was the big surprise. A last-minute offer to ride with McGuinness prevented him having to miss the meeting when his 2004 sponsor pulled out of the sport and he finished just 1.32 seconds slower than his team mate.

Thomas Hinterreiter (1000cc Yamaha), the 37-year-old Austrian, was third quickest, seven tenths of a second slower than Easton on a machine he normally races in Endurance events.

Michael Rutter (1000cc Red Bull Honda), the man chasing his third Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix victory in succession, was only fourth, struggling with tyres that did not work well in the cool morning temperatures.

The 31-year-old Leicestershire racer, looking for his fifth win in the event, was 2.24 seconds slower than McGuinness but was confident that the new afternoon starting time for the 15-lap race on Saturday will be more suited to his tyres.

Callum Ramsay, the 29-year-old Scot, maintained his grip on the FIM 600 Supersport Class by being fastest in all three practice sessions on the Valmoto Triumph.

But 27-year-old Australian Cameron Donald, twice winner of the class in the past three years, was second quickest on the China Yuan XGJao Racing Honda, just seven tenths of a second down.


More, from a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

MonsterMob Ducati British Superbike and Supersport Championship Team

38th Hotel Fortuna Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix
Saturday, 20th November 2004

MONSTERMOB DUO IMPRESS AT FAREWELL MACAU GRAND PRIX

TEAM MATES MCGUINNESS AND EASTON TOP QUALIFYING SHEETS IN THE FAR EAST

MonsterMob Ducati’s John McGuinness will start tomorrow’s 38th Hotel Fortuna Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix from Pole Position having scorched around the twisty Circuito da Guia nearly one and a half seconds faster than team mate Stuart Easton who will start alongside the Lancastrian.

Going into the team’s swansong race after four memorable years with Ducati, the VK MonsterMob F04 pairing out-paced Austrian Thomas Hinterreiter (Yamaha) and pre-event favourite Michael Rutter (Honda) around the Far Eastern 6.12km track, to clinch the top two slots on the grid in readiness for tomorrow’s race.

Six times TT winner McGuinness set the early pace in the first free practice session before Rutter speeded up in the second one but in the all important timed session today, John set a time of 2:28.663 which was good enough to clinch him the pole as he goes for his second Macau victory.

Reunited with the team that won the 2002 British Supersport title, young Scot Stuart Easton was riding a Superbike at the former Portuguese colony for only the second time and chased McGuinness home in a time of 2:29.986, the only two riders to crack the two and a half minute lap barrier.

Riding the Slingshot built MonsterMob Honda, veteran journalist Gus Scott ended up fifth fastest but a spill coming out of the final corner injured the Cumbrian’s shoulder and he may be forced to miss the race.

Speaking from Macau, team boss Paul Bird said that their joy was tempered with a tinge of sadness:

“To claim one and two on the grid for our final race with Ducati is brilliant but the whole team has a lump in their throats and it’s strange because there are a few long faces around when we should really be celebrating. It would be magnificent if we could get the race win tomorrow and a rostrum also would be fitting. Whatever happens, it’s going to be a very emotional time for us all.”