Death overshadows Irwin Macau victory

PENRITH-BASED Paul Bird Motorsport took what the squad later described as a hollow victory in yesterday’s Sun City Group Macau Grand Prix.

Rider Glenn Irwin took the spoils after the race was stopped, following a huge crash which resulted in the death of TT favourite Dan Hegarty.

Irwin then took to social media and urged fans not to offer any congratulations, and instead concentrate their thoughts on the loss of his fellow rider.

Hegarty, who has risen through the ranks to become a regular at the Isle of Man TT and Macau, was killed after a crash on the sixth lap around the gruelling street circuit.

Race chiefs instantly stopped the race and then later called it a result, giving Irwin his first Macau win.

Irwin, who also rides for Bird’s British Superbike team alongside reigning and six times champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne, had been the dominant figure throughout all practice and qualifying sessions.

Topping the timesheets in Thursday’s first practice sessions, he went on to destroy the lap record set by Hawick’s Stuart Easton as he took pole on Friday.

As the race began, the 27-year-old from Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland, grabbed the hole shot to take the lead.

Both Martin Jessopp and two-time winner Peter Hickman moved to the front briefly on that opening lap, but Irwin was back ahead before the pack crossed the line for the first time.

From there he held the position all the way, until the race was eventually stopped as a result of Hegarty’s crash.

Irwin, riding the Metzelershod Be Wiser TAK CHUN Racing by PBM/Penz13 Ducati Panigale R, was declared the winner.

Although no official announcement was made until later in the morning, it was clear from the riders who had ridden past the aftermath that it had been a serious accident.

And despite his win, Irwin was the first rider to come forward and urge people not to make a fuss over his victory, instead asking them to consider Dan’s family.

“I appreciate all the congratulations, but the result is irrelevant, and all our thoughts are with Dan’s team and family at this very sad time,” he said.

“As far as the race is concerned, I had a non-mechanical technical issue which nearly caused me to pull in on the opening lap, but I adjusted my style and it worked OK. It’s a very sad end to what has been a successful week.”

The second Paul Bird Motorsport bike of Manxman Dan Kneen finished 11th, and Irwin’s victory comes as the fourth Macau win for the Cumbrian team.