By Barry Russell
Jeremy Toye entertains the paddock with a burnout after last year's sensational third place at Macau
In a field packed with British road racing royalty, American Jeremy Toye stands out as the man most likely to keep the Union Jack off the top step of the podium at the City of Dreams Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix which gets underway on 17th November.
The AMA star and multiple Californian state champion will be making his eighth appearance at the Guia Circuit, having taken a sensational third place behind multiple Macau winners Stuart Easton and Michael Rutter on the Locust-Lee’s Cycle BMW. This year he will be riding a Paul Bird factory backed IGT Kawasaki ZX-10R alongside superstar debutant Michael Dunlop and recovering Macau exponent Conor Cummins. He tested the bike after the final World Superbike round at Portimao.
Speaking from his home yesterday, Toye said, “Get ready for an upset. Last year I wasn’t even in the running as far as the press was concerned. Just being able to run with those guys at a road race means a lot: it’s like having them come over and being competitive at supercross. It doesn’t happen very often but it does happen and that’s just what I’m gonna do. I’m going for the top step. With the amount of talent going over this year it’s not gonna be easy, but I am very focused and riding well, so I’m ready. I will be riding my dirt-bike until then. After that I will just let it happen.”
Although the canny Paul Bird is missing three-times winner, Stuart Easton and rising star Simon Andrews from last year’s team, both of whom suffered horrendous injuries during 2011, he is going into this year’s Macau Grand Prix with a very strong line-up. Taking fitness and experience into account it is the tough San Diego racer who is carrying the best chance of another victory for the men in green.
