The 53rd Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix was stopped twice on Saturday following two-red flag incidents, the second involving six riders.

The first start, due to take place over 12 laps saw drama immediately when a fuelling issue on the warm-up lap with the Tak Chun Group by PBM Ducati meant John McGuinness was out before the race had even got underway.

When it did, pole position man Peter Hickman grabbed an immediate lead on the MGM by Bathams Racing BMW and he soon disappeared into the distance as team-mate Michael Rutter slotted into second ahead of David Johnson on the second Ducati and Lee Johnston (Ashcourt Racing BMW)

At the end of the third lap, Hickman had opend up an almost unbelievable lead of 7.2s over Rutter with Johnson. Johnston, Davey Todd and Horst Saiger occupying third to sixth but the red flag came out on lap four after Rob Hodson crashed and Marek Cerveny was unable to avoid him.

Both riders were reported to be ok but with fuel and water spilling onto the track, a 30-minute delay followed.

Re-started over the shorter distance of eight laps, it was Rutter who got the holeshot on this occasion and he led the field round at the end of the first lap with Hickman and Johnson in second and third followed by Todd, Johnston and Saiger.

Hickman took the lead on the brakes going into Lisboa and soon opened up a gap over Rutter who had Johnson right with him. Todd remained in fourth as Ian Hutchinson moved up o sixth.

However, the red flag came out once more after a multiple pile up involving Erno Kostamo, Derek Sheils, Michael Sweeney, Didier Grams, Phil Crowe and Dan Kruger saw the track littered with riders and machinery.

With the riders being attended to and with the light fading, organisers had little option other than to cancel the race as we now await details of the injured and whether or not the race will be run on Sunday where a packed programme is already scheduled.