Peter Hickman, Josh Brookes and Michael Rutter will form FHO Racing BMW Motorrad’s rider line-up for its return to the Macau Grand Prix this year, it has been confirmed.

The event marks a special homecoming for Macanese FHO Racing team owner and principal Faye Ho, who has sponsored a number of teams and riders in the years preceding her takeover of the erstwhile Smiths Racing set-up in BSB and the Isle of Man TT.

This is reflected in a star-studded rider line-up, which features FHO’s regular BSB riders in Brookes and Macau specialist Hickman, while adding nine-time Macau GP winner Rutter. In all, Hickman and Rutter have 12 victories on the fearsome Guia Circuit between them.

“I’m so excited to get back to Macau and especially now with my own team,’ says Ho. “I grew up watching the races and that’s where my passion for motorsport started. My dream was to always return one day with my own team and after some success sponsoring teams and riders, this year my dream will come true when FHO Racing makes its debut at the Macau Grand Prix. 

“We enjoyed fantastic results at the TT Races this year and I think heading to Macau we have a super-strong team with Michael and Peter, who have a wealth of experience and wins between them. For Josh, it’s his first time at the event, so of course there’s no pressure on him, but he’s shown his skill on the roads and I’m excited to see how he gets on.”

After the COVID pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 events before strict quarantine regulations deterred many international stars from making the trip in 2022, the trio are excited to be heading East once more.

The race will be something of a grudge match for Hickman and Rutter after the latter emerged victorious in 2019 in controversial circumstances.

Hickman had largely dominated proceedings in the run up to the race, but Rutter got the better start to take a lead he’d hold to the finish line. Hickman soon overtook at the beginning of lap two, only for the race to be red flagged shortly afterwards and, due to the tight schedule, wouldn’t be restarted meaning Rutter was declared the winner in a race lasting just a single lap.

“I’m super excited to get back to Macau this year, the last time I raced there was in 2019, which was four years ago now, so I’m really looking forward to getting back out there. 

“With the FHO Racing team it’s going to be a special one; it’s Faye’s home event and the first time the team has raced there, so it’s going to be really cool. 

“It’s great to have Josh making his debut there, it’ll be interesting to see how he gets on with a brand-new circuit such as Macau, but after a few laps he’ll get his head around it. We’ve got a strong three-man team, and it’ll be fun having Michael with us too!”