Michael Rutter finished a distant 11th in this weekend’s 41st Macau Grand Prix following an incident with a fellow rider three laps from the end of the 15-lap race. The 34-year-old from Kirkby Mallory was the pole sitter for the event on his Aviva MSS Discovery Kawasaki and was aiming for a record seventh win. He was battling with Austrian Thomas Hinterreiter when the Briton was forced to take the escape road at the 90-degree Lisboa corner, putting him well down the order. For the second year in succession the race was won by Britain’s Steve Plater.
Rutter’s team-mate and Macau debutant – American Jimmy Moore – had better luck, being the fourth 600cc machine across the finish line.
Michael Rutter, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R (11th) “I’m gutted. These things happen in racing but this isn’t the result we came all this way for, nor is it the result me and the team deserved after an excellent couple of qualifying sessions. I’ve got to put this behind me now and look forward to next year. I’d like to think I will be back here again in 2008 to get a record seventh win, as Steve’s got some way to go to catch me up! I’d like to thank the Aviva MSS Discovery team for all their hard work so far from home.”
Jimmy Moore, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R (4th) “Obviously I’m happy with fourth 600 home, but it would have been great for Michael to have at least had the podium he deserved after an excellent qualifying session. I really enjoyed the race here and I’d like to thank the Aviva MSS Discovery team for giving me this opportunity to race at this unique event. Thanks guys!”
Nick Morgan, Team Owner
“To say that we’re disappointed is an understatement. To be on pole position with a lap of that calibre and then to end up in 11th is simply devastating. It is one of those things but it seems to have summed up our luck this year – almost non-existent! On the flip-side we have to look at Jimmy’s result and be very happy indeed. To come here for the first time and get a fourth place is quite an achievement and I think Jimmy could be a threat around here in the future. Big respect to all the team, they’ve worked hard all week.”
