Martin Jessopp 'quietly confident' of Macau Grand Prix success

Martin Jessopp is "quietly confident" of further success at this year's Macau Grand Prix following a track test he believes could not have gone better.

The Yeovil rider leaves for Magny Cours in France tomorrow with Rapid Riders Performance Technical Racing for the final round of the World Supersport Championship.

Having struggled with misfortune, injury and adapting to a 600cc Honda after rising to prominence in British Superbikes, Jessopp readily admits this weekend will be his last ever outing in the series.

However, he will have less than a month off before flying out to the perilous race in the Chinese administrative island.

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Billed as the most dangerous road race in the world, Jessopp jets out having finished second last year behind Macau record-breaker and former BSB team-mate Michael Rutter.

The 26-year-old last week got back in the saddle of the Ducati he rode and crashed at May's North West 200 in Ireland and revealed he hit speeds close to highs set two years ago.

Jessopp said: "This time next month I will be packing my bags and flying out so that will be here before we know it. We had a shake-down test with the Ducati last week.

"When I was testing it earlier in the year for the North West 200 I thought I was going to jump back on it and be straight on the pace, getting back on a bike I love, but it was the opposite. I was really surprised and I really struggled.

"This time last week I was expecting to struggle and for things to feel different but it was the complete opposite. Everything worked really well and everything we tried made us go faster.

"It was just a shake-down test, running around the track and quite surprisingly we were on the pace and the lap times we were similar to what we were doing a couple of years ago just before I broke my leg at Mallory Park.

"It made us quietly confident and I even didn't do the last couple of sessions because there was not really much more I could do.

"Just for a shake-down test on a bike that hasn't been ridden since I had my crash at the North West, it went really well and couldn't have gone any better to be honest."

Jessopp added he was keen to take that test confidence into the weekend, when he tries to add to the sole point he currently has to his name.

"I will carry that positive stuff into the Supersport this weekend," he said. "I was enjoying being back on the bike, digging in deep and pushing hard like I have always ridden a bike so hopefully I can take that enjoyment on to the Supersport bike."

See tomorrow's Western Gazette for more on Martin Jessopp's hopes for Magny Cours and the latest on his bid for a World Superbikes ride