- Michael Rutter looking to extend his record to nine Macau wins in his 25th year racing the famous street circuit
- MGM by Bathams pair start at the top of the grid ahead of David Johnson and John McGuinness
Defending champion Peter Hickman picked up pole position for the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix despite not clocking the fastest lap in the final qualifying session on Friday morning.
The bikers kick-started a day of action at the Guia circuit and Hickman went in to the day with a healthy lead from Thursday.
The Briton had put in the fastest lap in Thursday's morning practice session before establishing his intent to hold on to his crown on Saturday in the afternoon's first qualifying session.
Hickman's first lap put him top of the leaderboard and he stayed there until the end of the session. His final lap of the 6.2km street circuit on his MGM by Bathams BMW was 2:25.10.
So close !! @michaelrutter_ nearly pinched pole position from team mate @peterhickman60 with his final lap of Q2. Next up is the race. @MissFayeHo @thebathams @KTechSuspension @MGMMacau pic.twitter.com/B04WP9XYcK
[His teammate Michael Rutter in second was 1.7 seconds slower than the leader, with John McGuinness third another 0.348 behind him.
On Friday morning Rutter significantly improved on his own time, as did McGuinness' Paul Bird Motorsport teammate David Johnson, both going faster than third-fastest Hickman in the final qualifying session.
Overall classification for @MacauGPbikes after Qualifying One. @BathamsRacing @Smiths_Racing @BMWMotorradUK pic.twitter.com/WisOHtrxJI
" Peter Hickman (@peterhickman60) November 14, 2019
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[Nonetheless Hickman's Thursday time proved too good for them and he sealed pole for Saturday. The Lincolnshire rider was also on pole last year, the first time he had started top of the grid in Macau.
Road racing specialist Hickman is a strong favourite on the course he has dominated in recent years. Victory on Saturday would be his fourth in five years.
Rutter, who is also the team manager for MGM by Bathams, finished second to Hickman last year.
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[The 47-year-old won his first Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix in 1998 and has won a record-breaking eight over the years. He will be looking to disappoint Hickman with a ninth win, his first since 2012.
He has had 20 podium finishes in 24 appearances in Macau.
Fan favourite Ian Hutchinson, who is riding in Macau for the first time since the 2016 grand prix, will start off Saturday's race in 10th.
The 53rd year of the race begins at 3.55pm local time.
Copyright (c) 2019. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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