Often dubbed ‘the holiday race’ for many of the world’s top road racers at the end of another tough season [and a few of the really tough circuit riders], the Macau GP, situated on the western bank of the Pearl River – just a hop and skip from Hong Kong – must seriously be experienced first hand to be believed; and that’s only the on-track antics at this famous venue.

While the rest of Europe sleeps, Macau, referred to as one of Asia’s ‘little tigers’, houses some of the world’s biggest casinos where thousand s flock each and every day by TurboJet, helicopter and the border checkpoints of Zhu Hai in China to spin the roulette wheels, or pump the glittering array of slot machines the locals have dubbed the hungry tigers.

Gambling is a way of life in Macau, and riding the 3.8-mile Armco and stone wall lined Guia Circuit is probably the biggest gamble any racer on two wheels will ever take in his career – there’s just no margin for error at all!

Blasting through the Asian equivalent of Mather’s Cross at Mandarin Oriental Bend is probably the only International road racing comparison I can come up with [although that stretch is actually wider than the North West!] as this place makes the North West look as safe as Brands Hatch and the TT as tame as a certificate PG movie.

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