Macau Grand Prix: Erno Kostamo sets early pace in free practice from Rob Hodson

Riding the Penz13 BMW, Kostamo did 17 laps, setting his best time in 2m 31.069s to lead England’s Rob Hodson (Dafabet Kawasaki) by 3.5 seconds.

German David Datzer was third quickest on the MTP-Racing by Penz13 BMW, 1.9 seconds further back.

Austria’s Julian Trummer (WH Racing powered by Dynobike Yamaha), former World Superbike rider Sheridan Morais (Syntainics by Penz13 BMW) and Andre Pires from Portugal (AP Racing with Optimark Honda) were the top six.

Welsh rider Paul Williams was ninth fastest on his privately entered Potch Racing Suzuki, while fellow newcomer Joey Thompson from Yorkshire was 11th on the Heattech Racing Racing BMW.

Female racer Nadieh Schoots, also making her debut around the 3.8-mile Guia street circuit, was 13th fastest on a Rebel Racing Kawasaki.

The famous race is back on the Macau programme this year for the first time since 2019 after successive cancellations due to prohibitive Covid-19 restrictions.

However, the 15-rider grid – including 11 newcomers – does not feature any past winners or podium finishers, with all of the top names from recent years opting to sit out the event due to a seven-day quarantine stipulation that remains in place in Macau, which has to be completed in designated hotels accommodation.

These include record nine-time winner Michael Rutter and Peter Hickman, who has won at Macau three times, plus ex-winners John McGuinness and Ian Hutchinson.

There are no riders from Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland represented, with Lee Johnston, Paul Jordan, Derek Sheils, Michael Sweeney and Brian McCormack all absent along with fellow leading names including Gary Johnson, Davey Todd and David Johnson.

Ulsterman Jordan said: “They were in touch with me but it’s just not an option really with the quarantine for seven days.

“I probably would have done a couple of days’ quarantine but seven days was too much and you’d need to be away for about three weeks.

“It’s disappointing because I was looking forward to it and Macau is an unbelievable place.”

Qualifying takes place on Friday with two eight-lap races set to take place on Saturday.

Free practice 1:

1. Erno Kostamo – 2.31.069

2. Rob Hodson – 2.34.598

3. David Datzer – 2.36.573

4. Julian Trummer – 2.36.788

5. Sheridan Morais – 2.37.213

6. Andre Pires – 2.37.858

7. Lukas Maurer – 2.38.267

8. Laurent Hoffmann – 2.39.455

9. Paul Williams – 2.41.300

10. Raul Torras Martinez – 2.42.576