Macau GP Video
Stuart Easton, the 27-year-old Scottish racer won his third successive Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix with victory in the 44th running of the Far East classic on Nov. 20, 2010.
Easton, on the Paul Bird Kawasaki Racing Team machine, had to do it the hard way though, beating off a strong challenge from King of Macau, Michael Rutter, on board the Team of Paris AXA Ducati.
Rutter, fastest in the Macau GP qualifying, chased his young rival in the first part of the race until it was red flagged after six laps following a crash involving Canadian Chris Peris.
Then, in the restart, Easton made another attempt to open up a gap over his older rival and at one stage, had got a lead of almost two seconds, but Rutter, the 38-year-old British star, closed the gap again and threatened to catch and pass the Kawasaki man.
Easton responded by quickening his pace, setting a brand new Macau GP lap record of 2:23.616 seconds on the seventh of the nine-lap race, breaking Rutter’s spirit. At the Macau GP checkered flag Easton’s winning margin was almost 11 seconds over Rutter.
Stuart Easton says: "When I saw that Rutter had caught me, I was devastated after trying so hard to break free… and managed to open a gap once more."
Michael Rutter says: "I tried to catch Stuart mid-way through the race but then I hit the trackside Armco and said to myself, once is enough. I’m not doing that any more."
Rutter must now wait at least one more year before he can win his record-breaking seventh Macau GP.
Jeremy Toye, the 39-year-old American on the Lee’s Cycles Racing BMW grabbed a dramatic third place within sight of the finishing line after Britain’s Simon Andrews (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) had struck mechanical problems on the final Macau GP lap.
Chris Peris (via Facebook) says: "Finished 12th in final qualifying at Macau 2:29.6. I was told it was the fastest time ever done by a newcomer." Peris was detained in hospital suffering from a mild right lung contusion and concussion.
Peris continues after his motorcycle-racing crash, "We had a tire mix up and ended up with no tire for the race. So we borrowed a hard tire that I have never ridden cuz it was all we could find. Grip wasn’t quite the same!"
"I turned into the fast left before the hairpin, rear came around I saved it on my knee and picked it up only to go head on with the wall at 50mph; the wall won that battle!"
"I had a concussion, bruised lung and back. They released me from the hospital this morning and I am feeling much better today. Thanks for all the well wishes!"
Click video to watch Chris Peris on a lap of the Macau GP prior to his motorcycle crash. We here at Ultimate Motorcycling wish Chris a speedy recovery.
