MOTORCYCLING: Glenn Irwin all ready for Macau GP bow

The Carrick rider will be astride the PBM Be Wiser Ducati for his debut at the legendary race in the Far East, which will be held over 12 laps on Saturday.

Irwin, who presently has a verbal agreement in place with Paul Bird to continue on the PBM Ducati in next year’s MCE British Superbike Championship, chalked up stunning podium finishes at the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix on his debut in the Supersport class at both events.

In typical swashbuckling Irwin style, the 26-year-old says he hopes to make a similar impression this weekend on the exotic Panigale R.

“Things went smoothly enough in BSB this year and we had some good results and no big crashes,” said Irwin.

“Paul was keen to do Macau and I was happy to give it a go as well. You need a level of trust in your rider to do a race like this and I have made sure that I’ve put a lot of preparation in, studying on-board footage and training hard in the gym.

“I will treat the place with the utmost respect and there is no pressure from Paul, but I want to give a good account of myself. I’ve had a good season and to tick it off at Macau is the icing on the cake,” he added. “I’ve heard the stories about Macau but I’m not treating this as a holiday race. I’ll have more than one drink when the race is over, but other than that no-one will know I’m there.”

A top class entry is led by last year’s sensational winner Peter Hickman on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki, while Michael Rutter is chasing an unprecedented ninth victory on the Bathams SMT BMW.

Rutter, who is joined in the team by four-time winner Stuart Easton, was in terrific form this year and the ‘Blade’ says it would be extra special to chalk up another win during the 50th anniversary of the famous race.

“Every one of them so far is special but to win this time around – being the 50th – that would be incredible,” said the 44-year-old. “I’d love to win another one but to win this year especially would really be a dream come true.

I mean at this stage of my career, when I look back on winning myself – it does make you smile.

“I’ll keep racing for as long as I can, until my body tells me to stop, basically. It’s just such a hard race to win so this year to get on the podium I’d be happy. To win, I’d be ecstatic.”

Martin Jessopp, three times the bridesmaid at Macau, returns on the Riders Motorcycles BMW while the list of contenders also includes Ian Hutchinson on the Tyco BMW, Gary Johnson (Penz13.com BMW), Honda Racing duo John McGuinness and Conor Cummins and Dan Kneen on the Mar Train Racing Yamaha.

Dublin’s Derek Sheils will also make his Macau bow on John Burrows’ Cookstown B.E. Suzuki. Sheils, who has signed a new deal to ride for the Dungannon team in 2017, is joined by fellow Irish road racing regulars Davy Morgan and Michael Sweeney at the event, plus Waterford’s Brian McCormack.