Honda Racing’s John McGuinness upped his game in the first qualifying session for the 2015 Macau GP to take provisional pole position, just ahead of old rival Michael Rutter while reigning champion Stuart Easton continues to get to grips with the new Yamaha R1 he rode for the firs time in free practice earlier today.
McGuinness, who is using his Isle of Man TT Fireblade, put in a 2’27.246 on his 11th lap to claim top spot, 1.6s faster than Martin Jessopp’s fastest from free practice, while Rutter took second place a quarter of a second further back on the Penz13.com BMWS1000RR - which has an air of the Gus Scotts about its paintwork.
Jessopp, on the Riders BMW, found more than a second between session for third place on a 2’27.711 with 2013 winner Ian Hutchinson, on the PBM Kawasaki, in fourth. Gary Johnson ended the session in fifth place and 1.777s off the pace, just head of fast Austrian Horst Saiger in sixth place.
Peter Hickman put the Briggs BMW in seventh with a 2’29.463 as Conor Cummins and Jimmy Storrar completed the top ten. Easton is down in 15th on a 2’33.607, still ten seconds off his own lap record.
Russ Mountford was taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening chest and pelvis injuries after a crash halfway through the session.
