Grid locked in: Martin Jessopp swipes pole from 'The Blade' in Macau Motorcycle GP

Briton aiming to go all the way and clinch the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix title this time as he beats 'king' Rutter to the No 1 spot on grid

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Martin Jessopp calmly negotiates a bend during qualifying yesterday as he clinches pole position. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Published: 12:30am, 21 Nov 2015

Martin Jessopp was given a blessing from "the king" earlier this week and he duly rose to the occasion, a nerveless display of precision riding yesterday ensuring he will start Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix from pole position.

Eight-time winner - and the undisputed King of Macau - Michael Rutter had declared Jessopp as one of the riders to watch in what is a star-studded field gathered for the 49th edition of the event - and the Blade showed once again he knows what he's talking about when it comes to spotting riders with what it takes to tame the tricky 6.2km Guia circuit.

I've had a couple of front rows here before, but never pole and with the gap I had to second place and the rest it's just great

Martin Jessopp

Jessopp, suiting up for Riders Motorcycles BMW, got hotter the longer yesterday's morning qualifying session went and his fastest time of 2.24.387 was too much for even Rutter to handle, the Penz13.com BMW Motorrad Motorsport by MGM China rider settling for second on today's grid in front of Briggs Equipment BMW's Peter Rickman.

It was a first for Jessopp, and the man was beaming.

"I've had a couple of front rows here before, but never pole and with the gap I had to second place and the rest it's just great," he said.