Macau GP winner Michael Rutter says Peter Hickman deserved it more

Michael Rutter has labelled his record-breaking Macau GP win as ‘a bit of a shame’ after being declared the victor after effectively just one lap of racing over form-man Peter Hickman.

Riding the Bathams Racing-prepared Honda RC213V to Hickman’s sister BMW S1000RR entry, Rutter’s stronger getaway at the beginning of the second start effectively secured him victory despite the fact he was running a distant second to his counterpart during the abandoned first start and he wasn’t leading when the second was red flagged.

Indeed, having dominated free practice and qualifying, Hickman was odds-on for a fourth Macau GP win in five years as he sprinted into a seven second lead over just four laps during the first start.

However, the race was stopped after four laps due to an accident further back, prompting officials to call a fresh restart from standing in the order they were at the time of the stoppage.

At the second restart, Rutter got the better drag off the line down to Lisboa, leading around the opening lap before Hickman pounced at the tight rider-hander and quickly developed a gap.

However, a six-rider pile-up behind forced another red flag and with fading light preventing a third restart, the race was thus declared on countback to the order at the end of lap one. As such, Rutter emerged as the winner over Hickman, thus earning himself a record ninth success – more than twenty years after his first around the Macanese streets.

The impressiveness of the achievement aside, Rutter didn’t disguise the fortuitous circumstances of his success, saying Hickman deserved it more on Twitter.

@peterhickman60 @BathamsRacing Just heard that I’ve been given the win for today’s race. It’s a bit of a shame because Peter really deserved it. Sorry Peter.

— Michael Rutter (@michaelrutter_) November 16, 2019

Hickman, meanwhile, was entertainingly philosophical in defeat…

Drinks on you tonight mate bring all that prize money with ya, you’ll need it #ivebecomeabigdrinkerallofasudden top rising by you as always https://t.co/1BiiRekaeQ

— Peter Hickman (@peterhickman60) November 16, 2019

Watch six-rider pile-up that ended Macau GP after one lap

The Macau GP was stopped after a crash involving Emo Kostamo, Derek Shiels, Didier Grams, Michael Sweeney, Philip Crowe and Dan Kruger.

Of the riders involved, Kostamo, Kruger and Shiels were taken to hospital with the latter two later discharged. Kostamo remained in hospital to undergo surgery but is in a stable condition.