Derek Sheils on the Burrows Suzuki at the Macau Grand Prix in 2017.

Magherafelt man Paul Jordan will make his debut at the event on the Dafabet Devitt Racing Kawasaki, when he will be joined by fellow Macau Grand Prix newcomer Dominic Herbertson.

The pair both rode for the team at the Ulster Grand Prix after Ivan Lintin was ruled out for the remainder of the season, with the Lincolnshire man suffering serious injuries in a crash at the Southern 100, which sadly claimed the life of James Cowton.

Saintfield’s Davy Morgan will also return to the Far East for the seventh time on his DM71 BMW, while southern Irishmen Derek Sheils (MGM by Penz13 BMW) and Michael Sweeney (MJR BMW) will be aiming for solid results to round off the season.

Long-time Macau regular Steve Heneghan will ride the Reactive Parts.com Ducati Panigale V4, giving the much-vaunted new Italian racer its road racing debut around the infamous 3.8-mile Guia street circuit.

Ulsterman Jordan, meanwhile, says he has no expectations as he prepares to make his debut on the Dafabet Devitt Kawasaki Superstock machine in first practice on Thursday.

Jordan, who claimed fourth in the rained-off Superbike race at the Ulster Grand Prix, said:

Jordan’s performance at the Ulster Grand Prix has no doubt boosted his prospects for next season, while the Northern Ireland rider also excelled on his debut at the Classic TT, where he was in contention for the rostrum in the Superbike race on the Mistral Kawasaki until a problem on the final lap forced him out.

He was running his own 600 Yamaha on a shoestring budget this year but grasped his chance to showcase his potential at Dundrod and the Classic TT.Jordan said:

Carrick’s Glenn Irwin, who won at Macau in 2017 under tragic circumstances following the death of English rider Dan Hegarty, will not compete this year.

Instead, 23-time Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness and Martin Jessopp – so often the nearly man at Macau – will compete for Paul Bird’s Ducati team.

The line-up also includes eight-time winner Michael Rutter on the Aspire-Ho by Bathams Racing Honda RC213V-S MotoGP bike, and team-mate Peter Hickman, who will ride a BMW S1000RR.

Other leading lights include Gary Johnson (Briggs Equipment Kawasaki), David Johnson (PR Racing BMW), Horst Saiger (Saiger Racing Yamaha), and this year’s top TT newcomer, Davey Todd, who makes his Macau debut on the Penz13 BMW.

Kyle White

The 2018 Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 52nd Edition is set to welcome back a trio of former winners who between them have 11 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix victories to their names. An international entry of 28 of the world’s top road racers brings both a wealth of experience as well as up-and-coming talent eager to prove their racing credentials on the legendary 6.2km Guia street circuit during the 12-lap Grand Prix which takes place on Saturday, November 17th.

Eight-time winner Michael Rutter leads the charge as the “Two-Wheel King of Macao” vies to break his own record of Macao wins with an incredible ninth victory, 20 years after his first win in 1998.  Rutter reunites with Peter Hickman, Macao winner in 2015 and 2016, on the new Aspire-Ho by Bathams Racing team.

Rutter, third last year, will ride a Honda RCV213 in November, with the seasoned competitor ending a season which has seen him take a sixth victory at the Isle of Man TT and a podium finish at the North West 200.

Team mate and fellow Briton Hickman on a BMW is certain to be amongst the favourites as he chases a Macao hat-trick. Fifth in the British Superbike Championship this season, earlier this year Hickman set a new outright lap record at the Isle of Man TT en route to his Senior TT win, continuing his strong form on both the roads and the circuits.

Having missed the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix last year due to injury, 2001 Macao winner John McGuinness makes a welcome return to the Guia Circuit in November. The 23-time Isle of Man TT winner made a winning comeback to racing this past August with a victory in the Isle of Man Senior Classic TT. At Macao he’ll race a Ducati 1199 Panigale, as will his Tak Chun Group by PBM team mate Martin Jessopp. Fourth at Macao last year, Jessopp, who took his debut win at this year’s North West 200, has reached the Macao podium several times but is still in search of an elusive first Guia Circuit victory.

Briton Gary Johnson, sixth at Macao last year, is back with Briggs Equipment Kawasaki, as is Australian David Johnson of PR Racing on a BMW, having scored a top-10 finish last year.

The rest of the 28-strong field features a number of familiar faces and fan favourites from across the international road racing world, as well as a number of talented newcomers who are looking to impress on their Macao debuts.

Britons Ben Wylie and Davy Morgan return in November with Wylie on a Bimota BB3 with Bimota Racing / Amore Moto and Morgan on a DM71 BMW. Germany’s Didier Grams prepares for his ninth visit to Macao, this time with G&G Motorsport by BMW Motorrad.

Ireland’s Michael Sweeney returns for his fifth visit and will race with Martin Jones Racing on a BMW HP4, while France’s Xavier Denis is entered with PerformanX Racing on a BMW following a successful debut last year. Flying the flag for the Czech Republic is Wepol Racing by Penz13rider Marek Červený, who makes his third visit to Macao, this time on a BMW.

Fan favourites including Steve Heneghan of ReactiveParts.com will be back on the grid astride a Ducati Panigale V4, as will Austrian Horst Saiger who makes his 11th visit, this time on a Yamaha R1.

Also on a Yamaha R1 is Portugal’s André Pires with Team FastBike/Beauty Machines, while Briton Sam West will race a BMW with PRL/OHA Motorsport as he returns for a fourth time.

A three-strong PuraGlobe Syntainics Racing Oil by Penz13 team will see Ireland’s Derek Sheils, Briton Danny Webb and Macao newcomer Davey Todd on BMWs. Todd made a sensational first appearance at the Isle of Man in June having started road racing in 2017.

Fellow newcomers include Manxman Andrew Dudgeon of VRS Racing on a BMW, and C N Racing rider Craig Neve of Britain, also on a BMW. Britons Dominic Herbertson and Paul Jordan both on Kawasaki machinery will join forces at Dafabet Devitt Racing.  Fellow Britons JGH Racing’s Rob Hodson and Phillip Crowe of Handtrans JCR Racing both on a BMW make their Macao debuts in November, as does Daley Mathison. Mathison is part of the Wepol Racing by Penz13 team with Červený.  Raül Torras of Spain makes his Macao debut on a Yamaha with Raül Torras Racing by Martimotos, while 27-year-old Finn Erno Kostamo is another newcomer, entered by Markka Racing by Penz13 on BMW S 1000 RR

2017 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 51st Edition Results

1. - Glenn Irwin - GBR - TAK CHUN Racing by PBM/Penz13 - Ducati

2. - Peter Hickman - GBR - Bathams/SMT Racing - BMW

3. - Michael Rutter - GBR - Bathams/SMT Racing - BMW

Fastest Lap: Glenn Irwin /TAK CHUN Racing by PBM/Penz13/Lap 5/2:24.094/152.90 km/