Macau GP 2026: Without Todd and Kostamo, Hickman Chases Win Number Five

• 20 riders from nine nations will line up on the 6.2-kilometre Guia Circuit.
• Defending winner Davey Todd falls foul of the entry rules after his injuries.
• Erno Kostamo is not racing himself but runs the team of Julian Trummer and Maurizio Bottalico.

There is no open entry at the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix. The organiser hands out grid places by invitation, and this year 20 riders received one. The Macau GP 2026 entry list is still considered provisional, but it already shows a field from England, Northern Ireland, Ireland, the Isle of Man, France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and Austria. Grand Prix week runs from 19 to 22 November, with the race itself on Saturday, 21 November. Traditionally, Macau closes the international road racing season. This year, however, the names missing from the list are more interesting than the names on it: Davey Todd won in 2024 and 2025, Erno Kostamo in 2022.

Why is Davey Todd missing from the Macau GP 2026?

Davey Todd is not allowed to start because he raced neither the North West 200 nor the TT this season. These are exactly the two events the Macau organiser looks at when handing out invitations.

Behind the withdrawals is a heavy crash at the Daytona 200 in March. Among other injuries, Todd broke his thigh, shin, a foot and his nose. After the first operation in the USA, he went through rehab at a specialist clinic in Italy. Before the North West 200 he still tested in Valencia. By his own account he felt good on the bike there, even though walking away from it was difficult. The North West 200 race doctors nevertheless declared him unfit to race. Shortly afterwards came the same verdict for the TT. A panel of specialists in emergency medicine, orthopaedics and trauma surgery concluded that his injuries would not have healed sufficiently in time for the start.

What rules does Macau use to allocate grid places?

Article 9.4 of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix regulations lists three selection criteria. First, a rider must have been active in a comparable class in the current year, meaning Superbike or Superstock 1000. Second, points from the Superbike and Superstock races at the North West 200 and the TT count. Third, previous participation in Macau can play a role.

In theory, that third point could have given Todd a chance. In practice, however, the organiser has always favoured participation and strong results at the North West 200 and the TT. Mervyn Whyte, Event Director of the North West 200 and liaison for the motorcycle race in Macau, confirms this: “The criteria is centred on the North West and TT and that has ruled out a few riders, so for example that means that Davey Todd can’t go because he missed those events this year.” According to Whyte, a change to the rules has been discussed. For now, however, there are no exceptions.

That is particularly bitter for Todd, as he still had plans for Macau after his 2025 win. Back then he was convinced that a new lap record in the region of 2:22 minutes would have been possible. “So I’m looking forward to coming back next year to see what more we can get out of it,” he said after the race.

Why is Peter Hickman the favourite?

Peter Hickman is the only rider in the field who has stood on the podium in Macau in the past four years. The Briton has already won the race four times and now goes for his fifth victory with race number 88 on the Zeeco BMW by 8TEN Racing BMW M1000RR.

Hickman showed just how strong he is on the Guia Circuit last year. An injury at the TT had cost him most of that season. On his comeback in Macau he still finished second in the twelve-lap race, 10.021 seconds behind his then team-mate Todd. By his own account he was only a few tenths short of Todd, and he was happy to prove that he still has the pace.

The riders who have beaten Hickman in recent years are not there this time. In 2024 the race was cancelled due to rain, and the trophies went to the three fastest qualifiers: Todd, Kostamo and Hickman. 2025 then brought a BMW one-two-three with Todd ahead of Hickman and Kostamo. In total, six BMW M1000RRs finished in the top ten that year.

What role does Erno Kostamo play at the Macau GP 2026?

Erno Kostamo is not racing himself this year but is team boss of RVS Motorsport. The Finn is still suffering from the after-effects of his heavy crash at the TT.

Kostamo has been a fixture at the front in Macau in recent years. He won in 2022, was second in the 2024 qualifying classification and finished third in 2025, 24.706 seconds down. Now he is fielding two riders, both on the BMW M1000RR: Maurizio Bottalico from Italy with number 40 and Julian Trummer from Austria with number 91.

How did Julian Trummer end up at RVS Motorsport?

Julian Trummer almost did not make it to Macau at all, even though his starts at the North West 200 and the TT had qualified him for an invitation. The 35-year-old, who is about to become a father in the next few days, is regarded as the fastest Austrian on the Isle of Man Mountain Course.

It was already becoming clear during the TT that things would not continue with his previous team, Smith Racing. By the Southern 100 at the latest, it was obvious that neither side wanted to go to Macau together. Trummer then asked Rico Penzkofer for help, who agreed immediately. Shortly afterwards, however, Stefan Kühn came forward with an offer, and Trummer opted for it. It was not an easy decision: “It’s not my style to withdraw a commitment I’ve made. This time, though, I had to be selfish, and I told Rico that quite openly. He fully understood my decision, and I’m more than grateful to him for that.”

Trummer and Kostamo share a long rivalry. “Erno was a direct competitor of mine for years, so I know he leaves nothing to chance and his bikes are always perfectly prepared. That’s why I’m looking forward to riding one of his BMW M1000RRs in Macau,” says the Austrian. He hopes to benefit from Kostamo’s experience and would like the partnership to continue beyond Macau, into the 2027 season.

What does Maurizio Bottalico bring to the team?

Maurizio Bottalico was the best newcomer in Macau in 2025, finishing sixth on his debut. Back then he was still riding for Crowe Performance. The Italian has won several European hill climb titles, stood on the podium at the Manx Grand Prix and took three bronze replicas at the 2026 TT. Before joining RVS Motorsport he completed two test days in Finland. By his own account, the team’s call came unexpectedly: “I am really proud to be part of this team, there is a great project behind it for Macau, and I will give my best to make sure we can get out what we deserve.”

Which riders from Austria and Switzerland are racing in Macau?

Julian Trummer and Florian Astner are starting for Austria, Olivier Lupberger for Switzerland. For Astner it is his first start on the Guia Circuit.

Astner rides a BMW M1000RR with number 311 for the Penz13 Racing Team. Marcus Simpson from the Isle of Man also races for the same team. Lupberger competes with number 85 for Heidger-Motorsport on a Yamaha R1.

Who is racing in Macau for the first time?

Six riders make their debut at the Macau GP 2026: Kevin Keyes, Fedrik Matthys, Dean McMaster, Aaron Spence, Mark Hewitt and Florian Astner.

Belgium’s Matthys is the first champion of the European Series Road Racing. Ireland’s Keyes gets a Honda from Daracore Racing. With McMaster, Spence and Hewitt, three riders come from Northern Ireland who usually compete in the Ulster Superbike Championship. All three know the North West 200. McMaster from Ballymena has gained experience there over the past three years and has already won the Cookstown 100 once. In Macau he rides for Air NI Racing as the only Kawasaki rider in the field.

Mervyn Whyte advises the newcomers to treat the circuit with respect. In his view, it cannot be compared with the North West or the TT, and it takes some time to adapt to it. Most important for him is that the newcomers enjoy the experience and stay safe.

Which well-known riders are returning?

Alongside Hickman, Bottalico and Trummer, twelve more riders with Macau experience are returning. The best known among them are Paul Jordan and Rob Hodson.

Jordan was fourth in qualifying in 2025 and now wants to take his first Macau podium. The Northern Irishman has already won the historic Junior Classic TT. This time he races a Honda, alongside team boss Phil Crowe, who rides a BMW. Hodson finished fourth last year and is again racing for SMT Racing on a Honda. Also returning are Marcus Simpson, Sam West, Mikey Evans, who now rides for RC Express Racing, Amalric Blanc, Eddy Ferre, Timothee Monot, Martin Morris and Olivier Lupberger.

Which motorcycle brands are represented in Macau?

Four brands make up the field: BMW with nine bikes, Honda with eight, Yamaha with two and Kawasaki with one. Ducati is not represented, even though the brand is on course for the titles in both World Superbike and the British Superbike Championship this season.

All BMW riders use the M1000RR. Most Honda riders field the CBR1000RR-R, with only Hodson and Ferre riding the CBR1000RR. The two Yamaha R1s belong to Lupberger and Monot. McMaster represents Kawasaki with the ZX10RR.

The complete entry list at a glance

• No. 2: Amalric Blanc (France), Amalric Racing #25/Griffiths & Son/HML, Honda CBR1000RR-R
• No. 3: Martin Morris (Great Britain), Redspeed International/EBC Group/Adam Hewitt, Honda CBR1000RR-R
• No. 4: Aaron Spence (Great Britain), Sebden Steel/Spence Engineering, Honda CBR1000RR-R
• No. 5: Kevin Keyes (Ireland), Daracore Racing, Honda CBR1000RR-R
• No. 6: Sam West (Great Britain), Moto-hub.co.uk, BMW M1000RR
• No. 7: Mikey Evans (Isle of Man), RC Express Racing, Honda CBR1000RR-R
• No. 22: Paul Jordan (Great Britain), Jackson Racing/Crowe Performance, Honda CBR1000RR-R
• No. 23: Marcus Simpson (Isle of Man), Penz13 Racing Team, BMW M1000RR
• No. 25: Mark Hewitt (Great Britain), Dent Boy Ltd, BMW M1000RR
• No. 26: Eddy Ferre (France), Optimark, Honda CBR1000RR
• No. 29: Timothee Monot (France), TMR, Yamaha R1
• No. 40: Maurizio Bottalico (Italy), RVS Motorsport, BMW M1000RR
• No. 44: Rob Hodson (Great Britain), SMT Racing, Honda CBR1000RR
• No. 71: Phil Crowe (Great Britain), Jackson Racing/Crowe Performance, BMW M1000RR
• No. 85: Olivier Lupberger (Switzerland), Heidger-Motorsport, Yamaha R1
• No. 88: Peter Hickman (Great Britain), Zeeco BMW by 8TEN Racing, BMW M1000RR
• No. 91: Julian Trummer (Austria), RVS Motorsport, BMW M1000RR
• No. 212: Dean McMaster (Great Britain), Air NI Racing, Kawasaki ZX10RR
• No. 234: Fedrik Matthys (Belgium), Hoffmann by MRP, BMW M1000RR
• No. 311: Florian Astner (Austria), Penz13 Racing Team, BMW M1000RR

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