By Following seven days of enforced quarantine, media work, fettling bikes, exploring Macau, racers finally took to the Guia Circuit at 7:30 AM (local time).
Here in Britain for those of us paying close attention to the opening free practice session, this meant an 11:30 PM start.
Conditions were decent all round whilst the weather was favourable albeit a touch humid.
The early pace setter was Imatranajo specialist, Finland’s top pure road racer Erno Kostamo, lapping sub 2 minutes 42 seconds.
Kostamo then recorded a low 2 mins 40 seconds lap time (2.40.203), as the Penz 13 supported rider showed his prior Guia Circuit experience.
Amongst those to encounter early technical issues included newcomer, 2018 Senior Manx GP winner Matt Stevenson.
As FP1 went on, lap times began to steadily become more rapid, illustrated by Finnish ace Kostamo, lapping almost sub 2 minutes 31 seconds (2.31.069).
Leading the chase to Kostamo, 3.529 seconds behind was Dafabet Racing’s Rob Hodson.
Third fastest, IRRC Superbike Championship runner-up David Datzer finished quickest Macau newbie just ahead of WH Racing’s Julian Trummer, Penz 13 team mate Sheridan Morais.
Rounding out the top ten speediest runners were Andre Pires, Lukas Maurer, twice IRRC Supersport Champion Laurent Hoffmann, Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams and Span’s quickest TT exponent Raul Torras Martinez.
Macau GP first practice result:
1 – Erno Kostamo – 2.31.069
2 – Rob Hodson – 2.34.598
3 – David Datzer – 2.36.573
4 – Julian Trummer – 2.36.788
5 – Sheridan Morais – 2.37.213
6 – Andre Pires – 2.37.858
7 – Lukas Maurer – 2.38.267
8 – Laurent Hoffmann – 2.39.455
9 – Paul Williams – 2.41.300
10 – Raul Torras Martinez – 2.42.576
11 – Joey Thompson – 2.44.640
12 – Timothee Monot – 2.47.351
13 – Nadieh Schoots – 2.48.574
14 – Kamil Holan – 2.52.309
15 – Matt Stevenson – 3.04.717
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
