- Date: 19 to 22 November 2026 on the Guia Circuit
- Debutants: Fedrik Matthys (BMW) and Kevin Keyes (Honda Fireblade, Daracore Racing)
- Further entries are expected in October
Two road racers will experience a first in Macau this November. Fedrik Matthys and Kevin Keyes are entered for the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix 2026 and will race there for the first time. Belgian Matthys has just won the first season of the European Series Road Racing, while Irishman Keyes knows the road races in Ireland and the TT on the Isle of Man. The Guia Circuit is unknown territory for both of them. The street circuit in Macau hardly forgives mistakes. The event runs from 19 to 22 November.
How did Fedrik Matthys become ESR champion?
Fedrik Matthys won the first title of the European Series Road Racing in August 2026. In the final standings, the BMW rider scored 248 points, putting him ahead of his team-mate Laurent Hoffmann with 240 points.
The title was decided at Hořice in the Czech Republic. Matthys initially ran second in the Superbike race. After that he apparently avoided every close battle, because a crash could have cost him the overall win. On the final lap he dropped back to eighth place. That was enough for the title.
Hoffmann won the race itself. He started from pole position and extended his lead lap by lap all the way to the finish. For the Belgian it was an emotional moment: two weeks earlier he had won his first Superbike race at Chimay, and his wife comes from the Czech Republic. Behind him, Swede Markus Karlsson and German Nico Müller crossed the line. Müller had been thrown from his BMW the day before while in a promising position, but this time he made no mistakes. Like Tomas Toth in fourth and Florian Astner in sixth, both were only guest riders without points. That made Finland’s Anssi Koski in fifth the best points scorer behind Hoffmann. He finished the season third overall with 172 points.
The first ESR season now takes Matthys to a bigger stage. With him, a champion of the new series presents himself in Macau for the first time.
What experience does Kevin Keyes bring to Macau?
Kevin Keyes arrives with wins and lap times from classic road races. He has already won a Supersport race at Kells. His fastest lap at the TT came at an average of 125.95 mph, which is around 202.7 km/h.
In Macau, Keyes will ride a Honda Fireblade. The bike is provided by Daracore Racing, which supports him on his first outing in Asia. Like Matthys, he is said to be looking forward to the challenge of the Guia Circuit.
Who has entered the Macau GP 2026 so far?
Apart from the two newcomers, Maurizio Bottalico, Olivier Lupberger and Mikey Evans have been confirmed so far. Italian Bottalico rides a BMW for RVS Motorsport, while Evans competes for Dafabet Racing.
With Swiss rider Lupberger, a second ESR rider is on the list. He finished seventh in the series’ first season with 55 points.
The field is not complete yet. More names are due to be announced during October.
Update (22 October 2026): The full entry list for the Macau GP 2026 has now been published. It includes 20 riders, and Fedrik Matthys and Kevin Keyes are on it. All names and background details can be found in our in-depth article on the Macau GP 2026 entry list.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When does the Macau GP 2026 take place?
The Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix 2026 runs from 19 to 22 November. The races are held on the Guia Circuit, a street course in Macau.
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Who is the first ESR champion?
The first champion of the European Series Road Racing is the Belgian Fedrik Matthys. He clinched the title in August 2026 at Hořice on a BMW with 248 points, eight more than his team-mate Laurent Hoffmann.
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Which motorcycle does Kevin Keyes ride in Macau?
Kevin Keyes rides a Honda Fireblade at the Macau GP 2026. He is supported by Daracore Racing.
➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: Isle of Man TT 2026: The Complete Overview – Schedule, Riders, Teams & Results. Find all key information on this topic in one place.
