Peter Hickman wins 2015 Macau Grand Prix
Rennie Scaysbrook | November 21, 2015
British Superbike and Isle of Man TT star Peter Hickman used his Briggs Building Equipment BMW S1000RR to take a sensation victory in the 49th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix on the Armco lined streets of the former Portuguese colony, besting long-time leader and fastest qualifier Martin Jessop. Third went to multi-time Macau victor Michael Rutter, making it a clean sweep of the podium places for BMW.
Jessop and his Riders BMW S1000RR was on fire in the qualifying and warm up sessions, comfortably faster than the rest of the field and immediately took the lead off the start. However, it would all start to unravel as the softer rear tire Jessop had gambled on and built his early lead with eventually deteriorated, and with Hickman relentless in his pursuit and taking the lead at turn two at ¾ race distance, Jessop had to settle for a disconsolate second place.
Behind Jessop, Rutter held off a gaggle of TT stars in John McGuinness, Gary Johnson, 2013 winner Ian Hutchinson and Connor Cummins, the quartet covered by just four seconds after 12 hectic laps between the Armco.
The top 10 was rounded out by Austria’s Horst Saiger, Irishman Lee Johnston and Australia’s David Johnson. It was a great race for the BMW brand, taking six of the top 10 places.
As for the Americans racing at Macau, Mark Miller rode his Splitlath Racing EBR to 13th, Brandon Cretu was 23rd and Canada’s Dan Kruger failed to finish.
Photography CGS/Macau Grand Prix
