Multiple Macau GP race winner Michael Rutter will ride for the Milwaukee Yamaha squad at this year’s Macau GP after team owner Shaun Muir did a deal with SMT’s Robin Croft at Donington Park.

Rutter rode for the Skelmersdale team in 2012 and 2013 and was scheduled to do so again this year. Muir had been due to run Ian Hutchinson but he split with team a couple of weeks ago, so the Guisborough-based team were looking for a rider.

Croft and Muir came up with a scheme to join forces and Rutter will now have a full factory YZF-R1 on which to challenge for the race win in November. It is thought that Hutchinson has done a deal to partner Stuart Easton in Paul Bird’s team and those two will be Rutter’s main opposition.

“This was the best solution for both Robin and I, and we will put together a real race-winning package for Michael. It is a proven race-winning bike and Michel is a proven race winning rider so we really want to dominate in 2014,” said Muir, speaking to bikesportnews.com at Donington.

“We will put together a very fast R1 for this year’s outing which should give Michael the best possible package. We are going there to win and I believe this is the best opportunity for Milwaukee, Robin and Michael.”