Martin Jessopp (left), Michael Rutter (top) and Peter Hickman spray champagne after the 2019 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/motorsport/article/3108976/macau-motorcycle-grand-prix-cancelled-pandemic-bites-hard Motorsport
Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix cancelled as pandemic bites hard on showpiece two-wheel race
- Defending nine-time champion Michael Rutter among many British riders who have pulled out because of the ‘unworkable’ 14-day quarantine imposed by Macau authorities
- Organisers hope the race, an essential part of the Macau Grand Prix weekend, will return in 2021
Nine-time Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix winner Michael Rutter will not return to defend his title this year. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
The Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix has been cancelled after overseas riders decided to stay away from the showpiece event owing to the 14-day quarantine imposed by the Macanese government.
In an expected move, organisers of the two-wheel race, which was first held on the 6.2-kilometre Guia in 1967, said the event will not be held this year as many teams and riders have indicated that they were not prepared to undergo the 14-day quarantine period upon arrival in Macau.
That means regular Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix stars such as nine-time champion Michael Rutter and other notable British riders such as three-time winner Peter Hickman and former winner John McGuinness will give the event a miss this year.
The race is an essential part of the Macau Grand Prix extravaganza, which has now become a three-day event from November 20-22.
Macau Grand Prix organisers confirmed the cancellation of the motorcycle race.
“The Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix will not take place this year,” said the organisers in a statement.
“Having successfully contained the Covid-19 outbreak in Macau, many riders subsequently reconsidered their willingness to compete in view of the prevailing prevention regulations, making running the Far East classic this year unworkable.”
Many competitors from Britain had indicated in recent weeks that they would not be coming to Macau and had withdrawn their teams from the event.
With many riders pulling out of the event, entries were down to single figures and organisers had no choice but to pull the plug. However, organisers have indicated that the race will return in 2021.
Organisers in September cancelled Macau Grand Prix’s signature Formula 3 race and have replaced it with a Formula 4 for junior drivers. Most entries for the “blue riband” race will be made up of mainland, Hong Kong and local Macanese drivers.