Michael Rutter makes it a triple in the Macau GP
Raceline photography
By blue2bikes
November 20 2004
It was a triple as Michael Rutter took the Macau Grand Prix title yet again, onboard his Red Bull Honda ’Blade this afternoon. But it wasn’t an easy win - far from it.
Pole sitter John McGuinness took the lead from the off, aboard his MonsterMob Ducati - in its final race under the MonsterMob banner - pulling out quite a lead ahead of the chasing Mike.
Michael Rutter in BSB action - photo by Raceline photography
Mike’s chance was to come on lap eight, as the ever hard riding Honda man rode the wheels off his machine to gain some distance, with John slower than he had normally been on the fast straight leading into the Lisboa Bend. Mike pulled out of his slipstream and was to pass John on the brakes to gain the lead - and win his third successive title.
It wasn’t an easy win as John, refusing to give in, was only a half a second behind at the chequered flag, with Stuart Easton in third position behind his team-mate. An emphatic second and third finish for the two MonsterMob riders, on the Ducatis for the final time. It was a great run by Stuart, who was given the ride at the last minute and who will, I am sure, return next year, as will Mike and John.
An all-British podium and a fantastic three wins in a row for Mike, who will undoubtedly come back to try and make it four in a row next year, aboard the all-conquering Honda FireBlade.
Here are the final top ten positions:
1 Michael Rutter ENG, 15 laps, 37min 30.397secs
2 John McGuinness ENG, + 00.518secs
3 Stuart Easton SCO, + 24.821secs
4 Thomas Hinterreiter AUT, + 37.534secs
5 Josh Hayes USA, + 52.457secs
6 Geoff May USA, + 59.116secs
6 Jeremy Toye USA, + 1min 13.969secs
8 Steve Allan GBR, + 1min 19.371secs
9 James McBride GBR, + 1min 39.698secs
10 Stephen Thompson GBR, + 1min 42.024secs
Other British finishers:
11 Les Shand GBR, + 1min 42.728secs
15 Richard Britton GBR, + 2min 16.480secs
19 Callum Ramsay SCO, + 2min 26.007secs*
21 Chris Palmer GBR, + 2min 30.544secs*
23 Nigel Davies GBR, + 2min 35.588secs
27 Roy Richardson GBR, + 1 lap
28 Dean Ellison ENG, + 1 lap*
* 600cc class
Callum Ramsay, aboard the Triumph ValMoto, was the winner of the FIM 600 Supersport event, with his team-mate Chris Palmer in a great third position - another win for the Brits abroad.
Another rider of note was Cheung Wai On, a very talented rider who, on a home built Honda 600, finished 25th overall out of the 34 starters, and a brilliant fourth position in the 600 class. A very impressive 23-year-old rider who will no doubt go onto bigger and better things - a rider to look out for in the future.
Congratulations to Michael Rutter, John McGuinness and Stuart Easton for a very impressive all British podium.
To buy the photograph shown above, visit Raceline Photography