Stuart Easton won his second successive Macau GP today when he defeated Conor Cummins in a dramatic final-lap shoot-out around the 3.8-mile Guia circuit. Hydrex/IGT Honda’s Easton appeared to have the race sewn up when he led PBM Kawasaki’s Cummins by more than six seconds after six laps but the Manxman slowly ate into Easton’s lead in the second half of the race to set up an exciting finale. With both riders struggling for rear grip in the cooler conditions, Cummins took the lead on the penultimate lap but Easton wasn’t to be denied and he edged ahead again on the 15th and final lap, crucially putting a backmarker between himself and Cummins. Easton held on to win by just 0.381-second. The race had to be re-started after the first attempt saw a number of riders from the third and fourth rows advance forward significantly but when it finally did get underway on the second attempt, it was Easton who made the perfect getaway. At the end of the first lap he was already 1.5 seconds clear as Cummins overhauled teammate Mike Barnes for second while Ian Hutchinson and Gary Johnson slotted into fourth and fifth, Mark Miller lying in 10th and Jeremy Toye 12th. Easton was almost six seconds clear by lap five as he set a new lap record of 2:25.170s, almost a second quicker than the previous best. Cummins was alone in second but behind there were two terrific three-man battles taking place, Hutchinson, Johnson and Rico Penzkofer dicing for third and Barnes, Michael Rutter and Simon Andrews racing for sixth, Toye now up to ninth as Miller slipped back to 12th. As the race entered its second half, it was clear that Easton was running into tire trouble, his rear wheel visibly sliding around whilst Cummins was taking over a second out of him through the long sector two up in the hills. Johnson overhauled Hutchinson for third at Melco Hairpin but by lap 10, Cummins was just 3.0 seconds behind with Johnson now coming under extreme pressure from Hutchinson as Barnes overshot the Lisboa Corner, dropping from seventh to 13th in the process. Toye was maintaining station in ninth as Miller moved back up to 10th, the American duo involved in a fine five-man dice for eighth. With just two laps to go, Cummins was right on Easton’s back wheel and he made his move at Fisherman’s on the penultimate lap. By this time, Hutchinson was back up to third as Johnson also ran into rear tire issues and Rutter had finally got the better of teammate Andrews for sixth. All eyes were on the dice for the lead though and Easton utilized the top end advantage of his Honda to dive up the inside of Cummins at Lisboa on the final lap. With a backmarker now between the two, it was all in Easton’s favor and he just held on to his lead as 23-year-old Cummins ran out of time to make another overtaking effort. Hutchinson made it a good day for Paul Bird’s Kawasaki team with third as Johnson settled for fourth in just his second Macau GP appearance. Penzkofer put in a solid ride on his BMW for fifth ahead of Rutter and Andrews with Luis Carreira, Toye and Stephen Thompson rounding out the top 10. Miller ran in to clutch trouble in the final few laps and, after the rear wheel locked and nearly threw him off on five occasions, he slipped back to 12th whilst Barnes was unable to gain any further places after his early misdemeanour and he took 13th. Race Result (15 laps) 1. Stuart Easton (Hydrex IGT Honda), GBR, 15 laps, 36:50.910 2. Conor Cummins (PBM Kawasaki WSBK Team), IOM, -0.381-second 3. Ian Hutchinson (PBM Kawasaki WSBK Team), GBR, -9.792 seconds 4. Gary Johnson (AIM Racing Suzuki), GBR, -15.598 5. Rico Penzkofer (BMW Macau Racing Team), GER, -24.609 6. Michael Rutter (Team of Paris/AXA Racing Kawasaki), GBR, -31.851 7. Simon Andrews (Team of Paris/AXA Racing Kawasaki), GBR, -34.227 8. Luis Carreira (Benimoto Suzuki Cetelem), POR, -35.207 9. Jeremy Toye (Lee’s Cycles Racing), USA, -35.493 10. Stephen Thompson (Robinson Concrete Honda), GBR, -43.857 12. Mark Miller (Celtic Racing Suzuki), USA, -51.298 13. Mike Barnes (PBM Kawasaki WSBK Team), USA, -78.600 26. John McGuinness (Hydrex IGT Honda), GBR, -8 laps, DNF 30. Scott Jensen (Suzuki), USA, DNS More, from a press release issued by Hydrex Honda: EASTON TRIUMPHS AT MACAU Stuart Easton has won the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix for the second consecutive year riding the Hydrex IGT Honda Fireblade 1000cc superbike. Staring in pole position he lead the field into the first corner and by the end of the first lap had a lead of 1.516s over Connor Cummins on the PBM Kawasaki WSBK. By the end of lap 6 the young Scot had increased his lead to 6.172s and Stuart and Cummins had pulled away from the following pack. However, by lap 10 Cummins had began to fight back and had reduced Stuart’s lead to 3.078s. Cummins was now on a charge and the final five laps produced some dramatic racing. At the start of lap 14, the penultimate lap, Cummins was just 0.421s behind Stuart and during the lap passed Stuart at Fisherman’s Bend. On the last lap Stuart dug deep and out braked Cummins on the approach to Lisboa, held his line and retook the lead. Pushing hard he kept Cummins at bay to cross the finish line just 0.381s ahead. It was not such a good race for Hydrex IGT Honda’s other rider, John McGuinness, who had to retire on lap 7. Stuart Easton, “The first half of the race went really well but as the laps past I realised I had been working my tyres really hard and I started to really feel the grip going off. Connor was pushing hard and with two laps to go I really felt I was in trouble. Connor passed me on the penultimate lap but I was absolutely determined to win again so on the last lap I pushed really hard and with what grip I had left I was able to out brake Connor into Lisboa. To win again and to set a new lap record has made this the perfect weekend. I must say a big thank you to Shaun Muir who gave me the opportunity to have my best season ever, all the team who have been fantastic and, of course, our sponsors “ John McGuinness, “It was a disappointing race for me. I never found my confidence on the bike and I was moving back through the field. The crew had done a great job and the bike was performing well. However, I simply couldn’t find any rhythm or pace and by the time I reached lap 7 I took the decision to retire.” Shaun Muir, Team Owner, “This is a fantastic result and I’m delighted for Stuart and the team. He has performed well all year and I have seen a real determination in him since he first rode for SMR at last year’s Macau GP. This is the perfect ending to a great season for Stuart and I’m delighted to have signed him for the 2010 BSB season. A big thank you, of course, to all the team who have work so hard and all our sponsors for their enduring support.” More, from a press release issued by Paul Bird Motorsports: DOUBLE MACAU PODIUM FOR PBM KAWASAKI The Kawasaki Superbike Racing Team recorded a superb double podium when Conor Cummins and Ian Hutchinson finished second and third respectively in this morning’s Macau Grand Prix. Aboard the www.supercasino.com, Vent-Axia, Henleys and Kick Energy-backed Ninja ZX-10R which Broc Parkes raced in this year’s World Superbike Championship, 23-year-old Manxman Cummins, on only his third visit, chased down a six second deficit behind leader Stuart Easton and going into the penultimate lap, Cummins hit the front but despite a frenetic last lap battle, it was Easton who held on for victory by a third of a second after fifteen laps of the 6.12km Circuito Da Guia. Yorkshireman Ian Hutchinson brought the second of the works PBM Kawasakis home in third place after seeing off a challenge from Gary Johnson to give the PBM team cause for further celebration, especially as Easton is also personally sponsored by team owner Paul Bird! Conor Cummins: “There was some confusion at the start of the race and by the time I got going, I’d been held up which had allowed Stuart to build a big lead but little by little, I reeled him in and took the lead going into Fishermans on the last lap but one. I thought I could hold him off but Stuart has a lot of experience around here and I got a bad run through the backmarkers so he got by me again but I’m happy enough with second place. The bike has been great and the team is fantastic and I’m delighted with the result.” Ian Hutchinson: “I got held up early on and by then, both Stuart and Conor had gone but after a bit of a battle with Gary Johnson, I ended up having a lonely race. I had to get used to the Pirelli tyres as their characteristics are different to the Dunlops I’ve been using and also I had to learn the Kawasaki so to finish on the podium is fantastic. We’re off out for a few beers tonight and to spend the podium bonus Birdy has promised me…!” Paul Bird: “My lads rode fantastic but you’ve got to hand it to Stuart again. Conor rode well for a big lad with not much experience round here and I thought he could do it but the backmarkers cost him dearly. Hutchy did a great job and dug deep to get us third place so I’m pleased for all of them. It’s one of Kawasaki’s best results of the season and fully vindicates us bringing the team here.”