SUPPLEMENT WED 13.11.2019 ‘MACAU IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE THE SEASON IN STYLE’ HORST SAIGER Q&A MACAU MOTORCYCLE GRAND PRIX RIDER DIEGO MOLA ‘Macau is an opportunity to close the season in style’ RENATO MARQUES Macau GP is a very good counting their days till the opportunity to have a good next holiday, probably becau- ACING for the first and notable race right at the se they hate their work, the time in Macau 15 end of the season and we same way some seem to be years ago, Liechtens- know the [results] from the only counting their days as if R tein-born Horst Sai- last race of the season often they cannot appreciate their ger returns to the Guia Circuit mean a lot when the time time on Earth. this year for the 13th time. comes for you to go and meet In the record sheets, it your sponsors [for the up- MDT - Which are the sec- shows Saiger won two fifth- coming season] or your new tions of the Guia Circuit that -positions on the demanding team. you “respect” the most and street circuit. what is the one you like the To learn more about the MDT - People often say most? thoughts and feelings of Sai- that “Road Racers” are just HS – Well, the first and se- ger regarding Macau’s race “mad people” – do you think cond corners are kind of “uu- and more, the Times spoke this is true? fffff” and Fishermen’s [Bend] to the racer in an exclusive HS – “Mad” is completely is pretty scary because you interview ahead of the 66th the wrong word to define know that if something goes Macau Grand Prix. what we do. If you are mad on wrong with the brakes (and track, and on tracks like the these things do happen, as we Macau Daily Times (MDT) ones we have on road racing, know) after you come down - What does the Macau Grand you would not be able to stay from the “Hairpin” and acce- Prix represent for you in alive for long. lerate through all the straight your racing career? Road racing is a different sections [it wouldn’t be nice]. Horst Saiger (HS) – Macau world; you need to be part of I have personally experien- is so different from all the it to be able to understand it. ced that a couple of times and other racing events and it is For sure, every one of us arrived without a working not only the Guia Circuit but appreciates our lives and brake at Fishermen’s bend. also the place itself, the mix our families very much, even I guess that is also the between Asian cultures and more, as we are well aware of reason behind some heavy Portuguese culture, the con- the dangers and risks we are crashes that occurred in past trasts between the old buil- taking. years at this corner (and with dings and the new big casi- The fact is, in road racing you tragic consequences). nos. It is all a mix of feelings. live intensely and you enjoy To be honest, I cannot sta- In Macau, there is always a moments in a much stronger te clearly why this happens lot of tension at the race and and intense way than most (and with many riders) but especially in the very early people do. I can say that now I will morning practice sessions. We all know people whose always do a “brake test” on Overall, I would say that the lives are not much more than the straight [section] on the RENATO MARQUES/MACAO PHOTO AGNECY PHOTO MARQUES/MACAO RENATO Earl Bamber Christopher Haase Edoardo Mortara II wed 13.11.2019 How do you see it as a Liech- tenstein resident? What are the resemblances and the DIEGO MOLA main differences? HS – It is larger than Liech- ‘Macau is an opportunity to tenstein! (smile). Liechtens- tein is a very quiet place with a strong predominance of countryside and forest areas. close the season in style’ But, in fact, now we do have counting their days till the way to “Fishermen’s.” our first casino and people next holiday, probably becau- As for the section that I like seem to wish to build many se they hate their work, the the most, I love to accelerate more of those... Personally, I same way some seem to be uphill at San Francisco - it’s hope the government stops only counting their days as if unique. that kind of development (as they cannot appreciate their MDT – Whom do you think we do not want to have to time on Earth. is in the best position to win surpass Macau in that field in Macau this year? (smile). More seriously, it MDT - Which are the sec- HS - I would say definitely is really very different from tions of the Guia Circuit that [Peter] Hickman or [Michael] Macau, I think, in opposite you “respect” the most and Rutter, [who] are always the extremes. Both places have what is the one you like the top favorites, but there are their good [points] and their most? other good names that we bad [points]. In Liechtens- HS – Well, the first and se- should not forget, who always tein, I love the walks in the cond corners are kind of “uu- race very well in Macau. forest and having a bonfire fffff” and Fishermen’s [Bend] to cook sausages and baking is pretty scary because you MDT – How about your self-made bread. know that if something goes result? wrong with the brakes (and HS - Every racer wants to MDT - From all the tracks these things do happen, as we win, otherwise it makes no you have experienced, which know) after you come down sense to put all your money one is your favorite and why? from the “Hairpin” and acce- and time into this sport. HS - It will always be the lerate through all the straight But realistically speaking, I TT Course [in the Isle of sections [it wouldn’t be nice]. always aim for a final result Man], which is just unbeata- I have personally experien- between fifth and 10th po- ble. But Macau and Suzuka ced that a couple of times and sition. If I can do better, for [in Japan] are completing my arrived without a working sure I will. top three, followed by Imola brake at Fishermen’s bend. The [Yamaha] R1 [motor- [in Italy] and Laguna Seca [in I guess that is also the cycle] handles really well the USA]. reason behind some heavy in Macau and it is also one I am also a fan of the North crashes that occurred in past of the motorcycles with the West 200 [in Northern Ire- years at this corner (and with best engine power. Last year, land] and Terlicko [Circuit in tragic consequences). I topped the list on two oc- the Czech Republic]. To be honest, I cannot sta- casions for top-speed in the But, I would like to note te clearly why this happens circuit. that sometimes it is more (and with many riders) but about the people and their I can say that now I will MDT - People’s first im- behavior and attitude that always do a “brake test” on pression of Macau is often makes the place more likable the straight [section] on the that it is a very small place. than the racecourse itself. vitae and has shown numerous times that he GT World Cup – All against BMW also has the pace. This race is mostly decided by a time trial during RENATO MARQUES victories, while Audi Marciello, Kévin Estre, circuit well and knows the qualifying sessions, and BMW have one and even BMW’s Joel the Porsche 911 GT3 R which anticipates the fi- OLLOWING the an- each. Eriksson. like no one else. nal race. Whoever emer- Fnouncement of reig- Last year, Farfus As part of their army, Behind the wheel of ges first at the session ning champion Augusto and the BMW M6 GT3 Mercedes-AMG will pre- the other ROWE Racing on Friday, November 16, Farfus’ return to defend showed dominance on sent two former winners Porsche is Vanthoor, has an open road and his title, the other con- the streets of Macau (Mortara and Engel) and who won in 2016 with an added advantage on testing teams have been with an emotional li- two other very strong Audi in one of the most the path to success, as presenting their top na- ghts-to-flag victory, the contestants: Marciello, famous stunts in Ma- overtaking is incredi- mes to face BMW. last of the team with who finished the qua- cau, when he crashed at bly difficult in Macau With the number of Charly Lamm at the lification race last year the Mandarin bend and with any racing car, and manufacturers’ dro- helm. Lamm passed in second place behind did a large section of the with these powerful pping to just four this away three months la- Farfus, and this year’s straight to Lisboa on his GT “beasts” it becomes year, the FIA GT World ter. dark horse, Alessio Pica- rooftop. virtually impossible Cup will be a fierce batt- The Brazilian driver riello. The race never res- unless a driving error or le between the German is expected to be un- Porsche’s prodigy Earl tarted and Vanthoor a mechanical problem manufacturers, such as der pressure from at Bamber finished fourth was the winner. But this occurs. Audi, Mercedes-AMG least half a dozen of the in the final race and time, he has different In summary, the GT and Porsche gearing up main contenders who fifth in the qualification plans, which include World Cup will certainly to attain the title.