Planes vs trains

I was enjoying reading Alex Kirby's editorial in the new edition of Tree News when he bobs up on the BBC website with a planes vs. trains story.

Rocket Radio Splashdown Party

Back in the UK briefly to attend the Rocket Radio Splashdown Party, to celebrate a successful season of Rocket Radio 2002.
Big thanks to everyone who made it a success. Flying back to the big country tomorrow. Looking forward to a mega 2003. Could this be the year?

Gommendy wins the 49th Macau Grand Prix

Tristan Gommendy, the French F3 Champion, has won the F3 Macau Grand Prix driving a Dallara F302 Renault-Sodemo for the ASM Team. He worked his way relentlessly through the field after Heikki Kovalainen took the lead in the 15 lap final. In a race of incidents and accidents he showed great skill making a pass at 160 mph round the outside at Mandarin Oriental bend and going on to take the lead from Kovalainen, who finished second.
Japanese drivers Takashi Kogure, Katsuyuki Hiranaka and Hiroki Yoshimoto were third, fourth and fifth while Dutchman Robert Doornbos was sixth. Paolo Montin lost his chance by stalling on the startline when on pole position and later crashing out of the race at Lisboa Bend. Shinya Sato crashed right at the end of the race losing sixth at the last gasp.
This was a classic victory for Gommendy - Formula One talent scouts will be watching his progress. A great Macau Grand Prix that will be remembered in years to come.

Rutter wins Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix

Michael Rutter from Great Britain has won the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix riding his 998cc Ducati. Rutter headed a clean sweep of the top six by British riders in the 36th running of this event. Victory celebrations included massive burnouts in the paddock by participating riders.
The top six were Michael Rutter, John McGuinness on a Honda, David Jefferies (Suzuki), Gus Scott (Suzuki), Brian Morrison (Suzuki), Pete Jennings (Suzuki).

Huisman happy repeat winner

The winner of the Guia race Duncan Huisman continued the recent run of family form in the race. Two years ago it was brother Patrick winning the Guia race and last year it was Duncan's turn. Today he repeated the feat - "I'm often mistaken for my brother. It doesn't matter. I'm a bit quicker than him."
Huisman said "The car was really perfect. I had a good rhythm. The safety car didn't help. The car was sliding like hell in the first few corners after that."
Nicola Larini in second place said "I had a problem in the qualifying race, I changed my setup but there was no time to repair the car. It was impossible to win. I was just waiting for Huisman to make a mistake. It was not right."

Huisman wins Guia race in Macau

Duncan Huisman from Holland has won the two-leg Guia touring car race here in Macau in his Carly Motors BMW 320i. Second overall was Nicola Larini in his Alfa Romeo 147. Larini tried all he knew to get in the slipstream of Huisman on the long Macau straight but was unable to mount a challenge at the end. The race featured a 160 mph crash by Macau driver Andre Couto whose tyres were starting to go away - finally he hit the wall at Mandarin Oriental in spectacular fashion bringing his day to a premature close. British driver Anthony Davidson moved up to third from fifth on the grid in his Honda Civic but dropped back later ending his chances against the tyre barrier at the Lisboa Bend. He eventually finished fourteenth.
The top six were Huisman, Larini, Engstler, Taniguchi, Harrison, and Scharmach.

Success for Hong Kong driver in Bathurst 24 Hours

The BMW Z3 M Coupe of Hong Kong driver Matthew Marsh, VJ Angelo, Ric Shaw and Ross Buckingham has finished fifth overall and first in class in the Bathurst 24 Hours.
Matthew Marsh reports from the podium that they have won the Bathurst Trophy. Well done.