- The 2008 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix was likely won by Stuart Easton, with Michael Rutter and John McGuinness finishing second and third, based on available records.
- The race took place on November 15, 2008, as part of the 55th Macau Grand Prix, on the challenging 6.2 km Guia Circuit.
- Top finishers included international road racing stars, with detailed results showing a competitive field.
Winner and Top Finishers
Research suggests Stuart Easton (GBR), riding for Doosan Honda, won the race, finishing ahead of Michael Rutter (GBR) on Discover Ireland NW200 Ducati and John McGuinness (GBR) on Ventaxia VK Honda. The evidence leans toward these results, though older records can be harder to verify.
Race Details
The race was 15 laps long, featuring a mix of Superbike and Supersport 600 classes, and is known for its demanding street circuit, attracting top riders from global championships.
Unexpected Detail: Qualifying Insights
An interesting note is the qualifying, where Conor Cummins led, but Easton’s race-day performance secured his victory, showing the race’s unpredictability.
Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of the 2008 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2008 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, part of the 55th Macau Grand Prix, is a significant event in the history of international road racing, particularly for its inclusion of motorcycle races alongside the more prominently documented car races. This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the race, focusing on the winner, top finishers, and contextual details, drawing from available historical records and motorsport archives.
Event Context and Significance
The Macau Grand Prix, first held in 1954, has evolved into a prestigious motorsport event, featuring a mix of Formula 3, touring car, GT3, and motorcycle races. The motorcycle race, introduced in 1967, is renowned for attracting former and current racers from the Superbike World Championship and legendary open-road races like the Isle of Man TT. In 2008, the event was held from November 13 to 16, with the motorcycle race taking place on November 15, on the 6.2 km Guia Circuit, known for its fast straights, tight corners, and unforgiving crash barriers, making it one of the most demanding street circuits globally (Macau Grand Prix – Wikipedia).
The 2008 edition was the 42nd running of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, and it featured a competitive field of international riders, including notable names from British Superbike and other road racing circuits. The race’s significance lies in its role as a proving ground for riders, with a history of featuring future champions and legends like Kevin Schwantz and Ron Haslam (Macau Grand Prix Records and Stats | Devitt).
Race Results and Key Performances
Research suggests that Stuart Easton, a 26-year-old British rider, won the 2008 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, riding for the Doosan Honda team. This victory marked his first win at the event, setting the stage for his dominance in subsequent years, including wins in 2009 and 2010. The final race results, as documented in a forum post from the time, are as follows:
Position | Rider | Nationality | Team | Laps Completed | Gap/Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Stuart Easton | GBR | Doosan Honda | 15 | – |
2 | Michael Rutter | GBR | Discover Ireland NW200 Ducati | 15 | +2.722secs |
3 | John McGuinness | GBR | Ventaxia VK Honda | 15 | +31.711secs |
4 | Luis Carreira | POR | Benimoto Suzuki Yoshimura | 15 | +39.962secs |
5 | Michael Barnes | USA | Ventaxia VK Honda | 15 | +39.982secs |
6 | Stephen Thompson | GBR | Sloan Developments | 15 | +45.910secs |
7 | Ian Hutchinson | GBR | Aviva Kawasaki | 15 | +49.067secs |
8 | Jeremy Toye | USA | Corona Extra Honda Racing | 15 | +1:03.628secs |
These results highlight the dominance of British riders, with Easton, Rutter, McGuinness, Thompson, and Hutchinson filling the top seven positions, reflecting the strong British presence in road racing at the time. Michael Rutter, a nine-time winner at Macau, finished second, adding to his record of podium finishes, while John McGuinness, known for his Isle of Man TT successes, took third, maintaining his competitive edge (PistonHeads Forum – 2008 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Results).
Qualifying and Race Dynamics
An interesting aspect is the qualifying session, which provides insight into the race’s competitiveness. Conor Cummins, from the Isle of Man, took pole position with a time of 2 minutes 26.580 seconds, ahead of Michael Rutter and Cameron Donald. The qualifying order, also from the forum post, is as follows:
Position | Rider | Nationality | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Conor Cummins | IOM | Team of Paris AIM Racing | 2mins 26.580secs |
2 | Michael Rutter | GBR | Discover Ireland NW200 Ducati | 2mins 27.077secs |
3 | Cameron Donald | AUS | Relentless Suzuki by TAS | 2mins 27.128secs |
4 | John McGuinness | GBR | Ventaxia VK Honda | 2mins 27.521secs |
5 | Ian Hutchinson | GBR | Aviva Kawasaki | 2mins 27.554secs |
6 | Stuart Easton | GBR | Doosan Honda | 2mins 27.923secs |
7 | Jeremy Toye | USA | Corona Extra Honda Racing | 2mins 29.223secs |
8 | Mark Miller | USA | Corona Extra Honda Racing | 2mins 29.405secs |
9 | Luis Carreira | POR | Benimoto Suzuki Yoshimura | 2mins 29.584secs |
10 | Stephen Thompson | GBR | Sloan Developments | 2mins 29.708secs |
Easton’s sixth-place qualifying position, yet first-place finish, underscores the race’s unpredictability, where strategy and race-day performance can override qualifying times. This dynamic is typical of street circuits like Guia, where overtaking and incident management play crucial roles.
Notable Events and Context
The 2008 race was part of a broader event that included the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix, won by Keisuke Kunimoto, and the final round of the 2008 FIA World Touring Car Championship. The motorcycle race featured a mix of Superbike and Supersport 600 classes, with riders like Rico Penzkofer and Keith Amor competing in the latter, adding depth to the field (Macau Grand Prix newsletter 2008-06-03). The event’s challenging nature was highlighted by the need for riders to navigate tight corners and fast straights, with speeds reaching significant levels, as noted in historical records (Macau Grand Prix – Wikipedia).
Easton’s win was particularly notable as it marked the beginning of his streak, winning again in 2009 and 2010, and later in 2014, cementing his status as one of the top riders at Macau. His victory in 2008, against strong competition from Rutter and McGuinness, showcased his ability to perform under pressure, a trait that would define his career at this event.
Historical and Comparative Context
Historically, the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix has been dominated by British riders, a trend evident in 2008 with the top finishers. Michael Rutter, with nine wins, and John McGuinness, with eight podiums, are among the most successful, and their performances in 2008 added to their legacies. Comparatively, the 2008 race was part of a season where road racing saw significant competition, with riders like Easton emerging as key figures, later confirmed by his multiple wins (Macau Grand Prix Records and Stats | Devitt).
The lack of official archived results on the Macau Grand Prix website for 2008 highlights the challenge of accessing older motorcycle race data, often requiring reliance on forums, news archives, and motorsport databases. This underscores the importance of community-driven records, like those found on PistonHeads, in preserving motorsport history.
Conclusion
The 2008 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix was won by Stuart Easton, with Michael Rutter and John McGuinness finishing second and third, respectively, based on available records. The race, held on November 15, 2008, featured a competitive field of international riders, with detailed results showing the dominance of British talent. The qualifying and race dynamics, including Easton’s climb from sixth to first, highlight the event’s demanding nature, making it a pivotal moment in his career and a testament to the Guia Circuit’s challenge.
Survey Note: Comprehensive Analysis of Ric Penzkofer’s Performance in the 2008 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2008 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, part of the 55th Macau Grand Prix, is a significant event in the history of international road racing, particularly for its inclusion of motorcycle races alongside the more prominently documented car races. This analysis provides a detailed examination of Ric Penzkofer’s performance, focusing on his finishing position, race context, and the nuances of the results, drawing from available historical records and motorsport archives.
Event Context and Significance
The Macau Grand Prix, first held in 1954, has evolved into a prestigious motorsport event, featuring a mix of Formula 3, touring car, GT3, and motorcycle races. The motorcycle race, introduced in 1967, is renowned for attracting former and current racers from the Superbike World Championship and legendary open-road races like the Isle of Man TT. In 2008, the event was held from November 13 to 16, with the motorcycle race taking place on November 15, on the 6.2 km Guia Circuit, known for its fast straights, tight corners, and unforgiving crash barriers, making it one of the most demanding street circuits globally (Macau Grand Prix – Wikipedia).
The 2008 edition was the 42nd running of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, and it featured a competitive field of international riders, including notable names from British Superbike and other road racing circuits. The race’s significance lies in its role as a proving ground for riders, with a history of featuring future champions and legends like Kevin Schwantz and Ron Haslam (Macau Grand Prix Records and Stats | Devitt).
Race Results and Ric Penzkofer’s Position
Research suggests that Ric Penzkofer, a German rider competing in the Supersport (SSP) class, did not finish the 2008 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, having completed only 1 lap. Despite this, he is listed as 29th in the overall results, as documented in a detailed forum post from the time (PistonHeads Forum – 2008 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Results). The race results, as reported, are as follows:
Position | Rider | Nationality | Team | Laps Completed | Gap/Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Stuart Easton | GBR | Doosan Honda | 15 | – |
2 | Michael Rutter | GBR | Discover Ireland NW200 Ducati | 15 | +2.722secs |
3 | John McGuinness | GBR | Ventaxia VK Honda | 15 | +31.711secs |
… | … | … | … | … | … |
20 | Jason Griffiths | GBR | MSS Kawasaki | 15 | +1:23.990secs |
21 | Gary Johnson | GBR | BTS Racing | 11 | DNF |
… | … | … | … | … | … |
29 | Ric Penzkofer | GER | IGT-Yamaha Austria Racing Team | 1 | DNF, SSP |
30 | Cheung Wai On | HKG | Cheung Wai On | 15 | +1 lap, SSP |
This table reflects the combined results for both Superbike and Supersport classes, with Penzkofer’s position of 29th indicating he did not complete the race, having managed only 1 lap, and is noted as part of the SSP class. The listing after position 20 as “Did Not Finish” suggests that positions 21 to 29 are ranked by laps completed among those who did not finish, with Penzkofer at 29th, having the fewest laps among them.
Qualifying and Race Dynamics
An interesting aspect is the qualifying session, which provides insight into Penzkofer’s starting position. He qualified 15th with a time of 2 minutes 33.036 seconds, indicating a competitive start in the SSP class (PistonHeads Forum – 2008 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Results). However, his race performance was hampered, resulting in only 1 lap completed, suggesting a possible mechanical issue, crash, or other incident, though specific details are not available in the records.
The race itself was 15 laps long, featuring a mix of Superbike and Supersport classes, with riders like Stuart Easton winning overall on a Doosan Honda, and Michael Rutter and John McGuinness finishing second and third, respectively, all in the Superbike class. The inclusion of SSP riders like Penzkofer in the overall results adds complexity, as their positions are determined alongside Superbike riders, potentially affecting their ranking.
Class Inclusion and Unexpected Detail
An unexpected detail is the combined results for both classes, which is not always standard in motorsport events. Typically, Supersport and Superbike races might have separate classifications, but in this case, the results list all participants together, with SSP riders like Penzkofer and Cheung Wai On included in the overall order. For example, Cheung Wai On is listed as 30th with “+1 lap SSP,” indicating he finished the race but was one lap behind, suggesting he completed all 15 laps but was lapped, which contrasts with Penzkofer’s DNF status.
This combined listing means Penzkofer’s 29th place is within the context of all starters, including both classes, and his DNF status is noted, which is unusual for standard race reporting where DNF riders are often not assigned a numerical position but listed separately. This approach might reflect the event’s unique format, catering to both classes in a single results list.
Historical and Comparative Context
Historically, the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix has been dominated by British riders, a trend evident in 2008 with Easton, Rutter, and McGuinness filling the top three positions. Penzkofer’s participation as a German rider in the SSP class highlights the international field, with riders from various nations competing. His previous participations, noted as his third time in 2008, suggest experience, but his DNF in this race contrasts with his later performances, such as finishing 17th in 2012 during his retirement race (Penzkofer beendet seine Karriere mit Rang 17 in Macau | Sachsenbike.de).
Comparatively, the 2008 race was part of a season where road racing saw significant competition, with riders like Penzkofer competing in both SSP and other events like the Isle of Man TT. The lack of official archived results on the Macau Grand Prix website for 2008 highlights the challenge of accessing older motorcycle race data, often requiring reliance on forums like PistonHeads, which provide detailed but unofficial records.
Conclusion
Research suggests that Ric Penzkofer was 29th in the 2008 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, though he did not finish the race, completing only 1 lap. The evidence leans toward him being listed as 29th in the overall results, including both Superbike and Supersport classes, ranked by laps completed among those who did not finish. This combined class listing and his DNF status provide an unexpected detail, reflecting the event’s unique reporting style. The detailed results from the PistonHeads forum post, while unofficial, offer a comprehensive view, confirming his position as 29th, with the understanding that he did not complete the race.
Key Citations
