Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng said yesterday that the Guia Circuit was up to all the required safety standards, in response to the fatal accident of a rider on Saturday and several other pile-ups in other races of the Macau Grand Prix.
Tam spoke to reporters after presenting the trophies to the winners of the FIA F3 World Cup at the four-day 64th Macau Grand Prix that wrapped up yesterday.
Asked by a reporter whether the Motorcycle Grand Prix would be axed as some riders expressed concern over how dangerous it was on the track, Tam said there were different types of races and each race had its own risks and challenges.
Tam said that, on behalf of the Grand Prix organising committee, he would like to express his sorrow over the passing of rider Daniel Hagerty during the 51st Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix race on Saturday, and convey his condolences to Hagerty’s family.
“The committee has prepared well for the race, including the safety measures, but there are risks and challenges in motor-racing,” Tam said, adding, “As we can see from the Formula 3 race just now, no-one knew that even in the last moments there would be an accident.”
Tam said that nevertheless, the committee would continue to do better on safety measures and improve every part of the Macau Grand Prix in the future.
“We won’t make considerations in that direction,” Tam said in response to a reporter’s question whether the committee would stop hosting the motorcycle race in the future. “We’ve just held the 51st Motorcycle Grand Prix […] we’ll keep on improving what we do, and more drivers and riders, Grand Prix fans, residents and visitors will enjoy it.”
According to Tam, visitor arrivals during this year’s Grand Prix grew six percent from last year’s figure in the same period. He did not elaborate. Tam heads the Macau Grand Prix Organising Committee (MGPOC).
Chong Coc Veng, who heads the MGPOC’s Sporting Subcommittee, said that with so many years of organising the motor-racing event, safety was at the top of the priority list. Chong said that both the races and circuit were in line with all the required safety standards.
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng (centre) speaks to the media yesterday as Macau Grand Prix Organising Committee (MGPOC) Sporting Subcommittee Coordinator Chong Coc Veng (right) and Sports Bureau (ID) President Pun Weng Kun look on. Photo: GCS
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