November’s 48th edition of the famous Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix boasts one of the best entry lists in recent years, with triple winner Stuart Easton and Ulster’s Michael Dunlop confirmed in the line-up.

Scotsman Easton, who dominated at Macau from 2008 to 2010, joins new Paul Bird Motorsport signing Ian Hutchinson in the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki livery.

Hutchinson, a winner on his comeback from injury on the Milwaukee Yamaha last November, will be gunning for a repeat after a disappointing season overall in Shaun Muir’s team as the Yorkshire rider aims to kick-start his new deal with team owner Bird on a winning note.

Cumbrian entrepreneur Bird has fuelled speculation that Easton or Hutchinson could ride one of the team’s MotoGP machines at Macau, which have been raced in the World Championship this year by Northern Ireland’s Michael Laverty and team-mate Broc Parkes.

The pair are up against eight-time winner Michael Rutter, who switches to the Milwaukee Yamaha.

Rutter had to give second best to Hutchinson in 2013 but could take all the beating on the YZF-R1 next month, which seemed perfectly suited to the infamous Macau circuit in Hutchy’s hands.

Michael Dunlop is making only his second trip to the Far East following his debut in 2011, when he finished 12th and one place ahead of older brother William, who was also making his bow on the 3.8-mile Macau track.

Dunlop – who may take in the final British Superbike round at Brands Hatch – is entered under the Penz13.com banner on the BMW S1000RR.

The Ballymoney man sealed a record-breaking win in September in Rico Penzkofer’s colours at the Frohburg Road Races, where he won the feature Joey Dunlop Superbike race.

Robert Dunlop remains the only member of the legendary racing family to register a win at Macau, scaling the top step in 1989.

Also representing Northern Ireland is Jamie Hamilton, who will ride Wilson Craig’s Superbike, although Manxman Dan Kneen – who had been due to compete for Dungannon man John Burrows’ B.E. Racing team – has been ruled out as he continues to recover from injuries sustained in a crash at the Ulster Grand Prix.

Waterford’s Brian McCormack has been mooted as a possible replacement for Kneen, while Skerries man Michael Sweeney will make his debut at Macau in the B.E. Racing colours.

The quality field also includes Honda’s John McGuinness, while highly-rated international road racing newcomer Peter Hickman tackles Macau for the first time in Paul Shoesmith’s Ice Valley by Motorsave Trade Racing team.

Bradford’s Dean Harrison (RC Express Kawasaki), Gary Johnson on the Quattro Plant Honda – third at Macau last year – and Fermanagh’s Lee Johnston (East Coast/Pirtek Honda) add extra gloss to the big-name cast along with Yeovil’s Martin Jessopp on the Riders Motorcycles BMW and Steve Mercer (Penz13.com BMW).

Crumlin man Stephen Thompson has been a regular at Macau for many years and returns once again with the aim of securing a top six finish on the Penz13.com BMW, with Irishman Steve Heneghan riding a Kawasaki for Quattro Plant Motorsport.




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