Preview: Bikes back at Macau

After three long years, two wheels will be returning to the streets of Macau. Racers from all over the world will be taking to the Macau streets including, four British riders with their sights set on glory.

The last time bikes raced at Macau, the race was red flagged twice, and was eventually cancelled due to a pile-up involving multiple riders with everyone escaping serious injury. Michael Rutter was eventually declared the winner as he added to his tally of nine race wins.

The grid has seen a drop in size for this year’s event. Only 15 will be riders taking part in the event and have had to quarantine before the weekend. This has led to racers such as Lee Johnson and Michael Rutter not taking part in the event.

“It’s not really feasible to be away that long, All the staff in our team get paid, so to pay staff to sit in a hotel room for seven days before the meeting even started would not make sense,” said Lee Johnson.

Previous race winner, Michael Rutter said: “I love the place and I wish I was there, but I just couldn’t do the seven days sitting in a room. It was a reasonably straightforward decision, but I’d hope to go back next year.”

One British rider to take part in the event is the previous BSB rider, Joey Thompson. Thompson made his BSB debut with NP Motorcycles in 2021. He has spent his 2022 racing on Irish roads as he takes on the Macau Streets.

History to be made

Nadieh Schoots will become the first female to race on a motorcycle at the event as she attempts to create history. Schoots will be on board her Rebel Racing Kawasaki as she makes her debuts around the tricky circuit.

Previously World Superbike and Supersport rider, Sheridan Morais will also be racing in the event. Morais will attempt to add his name to the list of winners such as Kevin Schwantz, Ron Haslam and Carl Fogarty.

For the first time, the event will have two, eight-lap races at the 3.8-mile Guia circuit and will be a brand new challenge for the riders. The last non-British rider to win the event was Swiss rider, Andreas Hofmann in 1997, so can history be made this year?

The race will kick off at 2:15 AM and 8:10 AM on Saturday morning, where 1000cc engines will sound the streets once again.

Photo by Renato Marques on Unsplash