On the sidelines of a press conference at Macau Grand Prix Museum yesterday where MGM unveiled its new VR F3 Pit Stop Challenge, the Post spoke to British biker Sam West where he explained his relationship with his sponsor MGM and the artwork created by people with disabilities on his bike and leathers for this weekend’s 56th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix (MGP).
West is an independent racer, meaning he does not race for a team so MGM’s sponsorship, for the second year, is great for him. This is the ninth year* that West has been racing in Macau, and he said of the project initiated by local businessman and event organiser Stefan Kuehn to get people with disabilities to design his bike’s livery and his leathers that “it is great to be involved in this project.”
When asked how he became involved in the project West said, “Stefan called me and asked if I would like to be involved and have my bike livery done by a local artist [with disabilities] with MGM as a sponsor, I said yes.”
He went on to say [being sponsored by MGM] “is a good position to be in for an independent racer and it is nice to be involved in the local community and to give something back.”
Kuehn is the project manager for “Creating Something Out of Nothing” that holds annual conference workshops with the support of SK Support and the Charity Association Macau Business Reader, which started in 2008 beside the pool in MGM and has grown into a powerful collaboration, according to Inside, a special edition book dedicated to the 71st Macau Grand Prix.
Kuehn said that he has been following the progress of riders over the last 10 years and last year Mick Dunlop left, “so I was looking for a rider to take over.”
“Creating Something Out of Nothing” believes in the uniqueness of every individual, a value evident with our collaboration with young artists, many who live with intellectual disabilities and/or Autism, according to Insider.
It goes on to say that these artists have vividly expressed their talents by designing helmets worn by MGM sponsored riders. In 2015, this initiative expanded to include full motorbike liveries, which have since become cherished symbols within the local community. Their designs convey powerful messages of hope, love and unity, connecting people from all walks of life, according to Insider.
West’s bike design drew inspiration from US golfers with special needs, including Jeremy Turner, Macau’s Sin Kei Cheong and Hannah Jonsson. West’s bike has circling patterns that reflect the inclusion in civil society and his leathers were designed by local artist and Fuhong member Meng Teng Ian, Insider points out.
This is the ninth year that West will have raced in Macau, each year mostly improving his finishing place, 17th in 2015, 14th in 2016, 14th in 2017, 14th in 2018, 12th 2019, 19th and 2023 10th (although he received a two place penalty that year). This included the three-year hiatus for the COVID 19 pandemic when no motorcycle races with overseas riders took place.
West will be riding a BMW M1000RR this weekend, a similar bike to Michael Rutter, Peter Hickman, Davey Todd and Craig Neve of the FHO Racing Team, owned by local businesswoman Faye Clementina Ho. Last year Hickman won the MGP for the fourth time with Todd coming second after an epic battle until the remaining laps when Todd eased off with tyre trouble. Todd this year joined the FHO Racing Team. Rutter, although having the fastest lap in qualifying, was forced to retire with brake problems and is mentoring Neve now.
West said, “Although my bike is similar to the ones the FHO Racing Team are riding it is not quite the same, but it is the best bike I have ever ridden in Macau, it is a really good bike.”
West thinks he will do well this year, especially as some of the European riders are not attending. “The three podium places are going to be taken by the FHO Racing Team but if I can be in the top four to six, I shall be well pleased.”
“I have been coming for nine years, hopefully I can do 30 like Michael [Rutter] – now that would be great,” he said.
*According to the MGP Official Programme this year marks West’s 7th visit.
Sam West poses with the MGM Lion mascot at the Macau Grand Prix Museum in Zape yesterday. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
Undated file photo of Sam West’s leathers designed by Fuhong member Meng Teng Ian. – Photo courtesy of Inside’s “The 71st Macau Grand Prix – Special Edition”
