Delight for Isle of Man TT stars at 2011 Macau Grand Prix
Thursday 24 November 2011
TT
Isle of Man TT stars enjoyed a number of successes at last weekend’s Macau Grand Prix.
TT winner Michael Rutter, who triumphed in this year’s TT Zero, took the chequered flag to become the most successful rider in the event’s 45-year history.
He won for the 7th time, leading home his teammate Martin Jessopp at the end of the 10-lap race.
Remarkably, Ian Hutchinson, who made history at the 2010 TT by winning 5 solo races in a week, finished third.
It was Hutchy’s first competitive ride since the horrific leg-breaking crash at Silverstone more than a year ago. His fine riding proved he had overcome what had been feared as a career-threatening injury and he will now be looking forward to a successful Mountain course return in 2012.
Gary Johnson, John McGuinness and Bruce Anstey, all winners at the 2011 TT, took 5th, 6th and 9th places respectively, while fellow TT winner Michael Dunlop came home 12th, one position ahead of his brother William.
There was also delight for Ryan Farquhar. Although not racing at Macau, the event saw him confirmed as winner of the Duke Road Race Rankings title for the 4th successive year and 6th time in all.
His victory was in little doubt, and at the end of the Duke Road Race Rankings he finished more than 1,000 points ahead of second place William Dunlop, who only narrowly headed his brother Michael.
Farquhar was allowed to retain the original Geoff Duke Trophy in his permanent collection having won the unique award outright after completing a hat-trick of title wins in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He is expected to receive the new trophy at the Adelaide Motorcycle Awards Night in Belfast in January.
Results at Macau did see other riders move around in the rankings. Johnson climbed three places to finish 23rd, Anstey was up one to 22nd, but McGuinness remained in 12th spot.
Conor Cummins, winner of the Duke Rankings title in 2007, was a non-starter at Macau due to illness.