Experiencing the Macau GP from within with Raül Torras

No runoff areas, twisty and narrow. This is the Guia Circuit, a track that has been hosting the Macau GP for over 50 years. Once again, Raül Torras has been the only Spaniard to participate in this legendary event—the quintessential motor competition on the Asian continent. The Catalan rider finished this adventure, backed by NG BRAKES and their brake discs, in a positive eighth position after consistently improving his lap times.

On a circuit like this, where brakes have no rest, having reliable allies is fundamental. In the words of the rider himself: “It is vital to have top-level partners with proven guarantees like NG BRAKES. We put our lives in their hands.” While good braking is “crucial” for any rider's confidence, it is even more so on a layout like this. In other highly demanding events, such as the Isle of Man TT or the North West 200, “you have very strong braking points, but then you have a long straight for the brakes to cool down and recover.” That doesn't happen in China.

“In my view, Macau is very critical and demanding on the brakes. Not just because of the braking at Lisboa Corner, but also because the entire ‘Mountain’ section (from Lisboa Corner to the Melco hairpin) is extremely demanding. The braking at Lisboa is incredibly hard. You open the throttle wide on the exit and then brake hard again; you open up again on the climb to Maternity and brake hard once more; you lean, open throttle, and brake again… It’s a lot of ‘stop & go’ in short gears. The brakes don't have time to cool down; they suffer a lot from fading, and if you don't have a good brake kit, you’ll run out of them. Aside from losing confidence, if you overshoot, you hit a wall… It is the most critical part of the bike on this circuit,” explains Raül Torras.

The Catalan rider is certain: the most complicated braking point is precisely Lisboa Corner. “It’s impressive. From over 300 km/h to less than 60 km/h, in a braking zone of more than 250 meters, between ARMCO iron walls, with a grandstand full of people and zero margin for error. It’s a spine-chilling braking point.”

Without a doubt, the most spectacular part of the Macau GP is the Guia Circuit itself, which has remained unchanged since the first Grand Prix. A track where those tight corners the rider from Girona mentioned can give you goosebumps even from thousands of miles away. An onboard lap on his Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP is the proof. Relax and enjoy without limits.