Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Michael Rutter earned the pole position for the 37th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Friday. Three-time race winner Rutter turned a lap of 2:27.833 around the 3.8-mile Guia street circuit on his Renegade Ducati Superbike, bettering his own qualifying lap record from 2002 by nearly half-a-second.

John McGuinness qualified second with a 2:29.590 on his Zongshen-sponsored Ducati Superbike. Brian Morrison, 42, was third-quickest with a 2:30.129 on his SERT Suzuki GSX-R1000. German Markus Barth was fourth in the final qualifying session with a time of 2:30.415 on his Fylde Superbikes Suzuki.

Team Embry’s Geoff May was the top American qualifier, ninth-fastest with a 2:33.404 on his Pirelli-equipped Suzuki GSX-R1000. Lee’s Cycles’ Jeremy Toye was 15th after the final qualifying session with a best time of 2:34.908 on his Dunlop-fitted Suzuki GSX-R1000.

American teenager Jason Perez posted no times in Friday’s final qualifying session. Perez’s 2:41.243 on his Graves Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R1 Thursday held up for the 29th spot the 33-rider grid for Saturday’s 15-lap, 57-mile race.

37th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix
3.8-mile Guia Street Circuit
Macau, China
Final Qualifying Results:

1. Michael Rutter, GBR, Ducati, 2:27.833, 92.40 mph
2. John McGuiness, GBR, Ducati, 2:29.590, 91.31 mph
3. Brian Morrison, GBR, Suzuki, 2:30.129, 90.98 mph
4. Markus Barth, GER, Suzuki, 2:30.415, 90.81 mph
5. Stuart Easton, GBR, Ducati, 2:31.635, 90.08 mph
6. Ian Lougher, GBR, Ducati, 2:32.136, 89.78 mph
7. Pete Jennings, GBR, Suzuki, 2:32.950, 89.30 mph
8. Richard Britton, GBR, Suzuki, 2:33.396, 89.04 mph
9. Geoff May, USA, Suzuki, 2:33.404, 89.04 mph
10. Bruce Anstey, NZL, Triumph, 2:33.804, 88.81 mph
11. Iain Duffus, GBR, Suzuki, 2:34.137, 88.61 mph
12. Steve Plater, GBR, Honda, 2:34.199, 88.58 mph
13. Ryan Farquhar, GBR, Suzuki, 2:34.702, 88.29 mph
14. Cameron Donald, AUS, Yamaha, 2:34.817, 88.23 mph
15. Jeremy Toye, USA, Suzuki, 2:34.908, 88.17 mph

29. Jason Perez, USA, Yamaha, 2:41.243, 84.71 mph