WATCH: If the TT is the toughest road race, Macau is a close second

THERE IS NO DOUBT in my mind that the Isle of Man TT course is the most physically and mentally demanding road course on the planet. The fast, flowing sections of the Snaefell Mountain Course require inch-perfect positioning and nerves of steel but, Macau is a different challenge and, in my mind at least, comes a close second in terms sheer breath-taking amazement!

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Here we see Austrian, Horst Saiger riding his Saiger Racing Yamaha R1 around the narrow street circuit of Macau, on the south coast of China. The video was filmed during the motorcycle GP and shows Saiger dicing with Irishman Derek Sheils, MGM by Penz13 BMW, as they nudge 180mph just inches from the Armco barriers.

The Macau GP circuit is 3.8 miles long and takes in more than 25 corners and bends. Like the TT circuit, it’s a public road when the racing finishes and therefore is littered with manhole covers, changes in surface and all the other road furniture you’d expect on a street course. Racing first started in Macau back in ‘50s and the circuit is a favourite with the stars of the TT with John McGuiness, Gary Johnson, Micahel Rutter and Peter Hickman all heading to the event to get their winter racing fix.

This year’s winner was Peter Hickman on his BMW S1000RR, team-mate Michael Rutter came second on his Honda RC213V with Martin Jessop coming home third on his 1199 Panigale. Saiger, our cameraman in the above video, managed to finish in a respectable sixth place.