Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix hanging in balance as majority of riders unable to commit to 14-day quarantine rule

Overseas competitors are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine period in designated hotel accommodation upon arrival in Macau before race week. Combined with the prospect of a further quarantine period after returning to their home countries following the race, the annual end-of-season trip to China is a non-starter for the majority of the 27 competitors due to take part.

Record nine-time winner Michael Rutter is among the top names set to miss the race. The Bathams Racing rider told TDM-Radio Macau that his team would be unable to commit to the event if the 14-day quarantine rule remains.

“Quarantine is a big problem for our team. I’m afraid that if the quarantine period is that long, we won’t be able to go,” Rutter said. “Hopefully things will change but if not, we have next year.”

The restrictions also limit teams to a maximum of five personnel, but there is now a huge question mark over whether the motorcycle race will actually go ahead at the 3.8-mile Guia course on November 21.

An official on the Sporting Subcommittee of the Macau Grand Prix Organising Committee said they understood 'most riders' would be unable to travel to the Far East because of the quarantine requirement. He added that a 'replacement race' was being considered if there were insufficient entries for the motorcycle race.

Northern Ireland’s Burrows Engineering/RK Racing team won’t make the journey this year, while leading southern Irish rider Derek Sheils has also ruled himself out. Saintfield’s Davy Morgan, a regular at Macau over the past eight years, is also a non-starter.

A much-changed race schedule does not include the blue riband Formula 3 cars for the first time in 37 years as a result of the Macanese quarantine regulations for international visitors, while the other flagship races – the FIA GT World Cup and FIA World Touring Car Cup – have also been replaced by races targeted at local and regional participants.

Around 200 competitors are expected to compete at Macau, with the majority coming from Mainland China, the Asian region, Hong Kong and Macau.

It will also be the first time in seven years that Suncity Group has not been the title sponsor of the event, with the organising committee cancelling the public tender process this year in response to the widespread changes to the format of the meeting.

The Macau Grand Prix – first held in 1954 – will take place between November 19-22.

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