If Rutter, the winner the past three years as well as in 1998 and 2000, can equal Haslam's feat come next Sunday the latter will be happy for Rutter but it will be accompanied by sadness at the passing of his record as the outright Macau king.

'I know how hard to win over there no matter what type of conditions are out there,' says Haslam. 'If he can get six like me, I would say it's an incredible result for him. Not wishing him bad luck or anything, I hope he doesn't do it so I can still be the only one.

'I would like to keep the record - that's right. That would be nice. Michael and myself get along as friends and rivals in racing. I know him really well. I would say to him 'just go out there and do it and see if you can notch another one'.'

Haslam is considered one of Britain's best riders, if not the best. It shouldn't be forgotten that he competed during a golden age of racing when the sport produced such greats as Mick Doonan, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Gardner, 'Fast' Freddie Spencer and Joey Dunlop. But Haslam will always be remembered as the king on two wheels in Macau. 'My first win at Macau [1981] was a massive achievement for me but it was also an achievement for Honda at that time as well because I went to Honda Britain on a four-stroke machine which was considered slower than the two-stroke,' recalls Haslam.

'The two-strokes were always winning it. The first time I went to Macau, I was on a 1,000cc four-stroke. I don't think a four-stroke had won it before. A four-stroke machine winning the Macau Grand Prix and my first time over there - that was just fantastic for me.'

One of 10 children, Haslam grew up in the mining town of Langley Mill, Nottinghamshire, where started racing - illegally - in 1972 at the age of 16. He raced at Cadwell Park, where he finished seventh and eighth in his first two races.

The young Haslam briefly gave up racing after the death of his brother Phil in a racing accident at Oliver's Mount. A few years later, he would lose another brother, Terry, killed racing a sidecar outfit at Assen, Holland.

But despite these family tragedies, Haslam continued riding, earning the utmost respect from competitors and fans, who called him 'Rocket'' Ron because of his lightning speed and his quick starts.

Apart from his six wins in Macau, Haslam has won two TT titles at the Isle of Man, set numerous speed records and gained top placings at the 500cc World Championships, now called MotoGP.

He never actually won a race in the MotoGP class, which is a source of eternal regret, but he was always competitive and remained popular on the circuit as a true gentleman of the sport.

'The only class I didn't quite get there is what we call the MotoGP. The best result I finished was fourth in the world twice [overall]. The one that was a bit disappointing was that I only managed to get a second place in a race. I never actually got a win.

'You get all the same stories where you can say it should been here or it should be there,' he says. 'A lot of times I was leading for quite a long way, but always something happened like the engine broke down or the tyre blew or whatever. I had my share of hard luck stories. 'I had a second in Assen [Holland] and one more lap and I would have won that. Randy Mamola was leading it. I was coming through and catching him three seconds a lap on the wet and then the bike seized. Spencer and everybody were there. I qualified in pole position. I got nearly half a lap clear with two laps to go but then the engine died.'

Despite earning his share of poor luck in the world championships, Haslam was still king in Macau. And this is where he built up a loyal following, becoming a media darling for his friendliness and knowledge of the sport.

Haslam says that racing in Macau offers more than just pure thrilling racing experience.

'Macau is just great and the people are so friendly as well. Yes, it's racing but it is racing in a friendly way instead of the 'gotta win' stuff that goes with other races. In other championship you need to win purely to get your reputation up there.

'But Macau, it's a bit different. It's you win if you can but if you don't that's OK because of the way the circuit is. You just do your best and if that's not enough, you don't push any harder than that.'

Haslam, who has a wife, Ann, and has three children, Leon, Emma and Zoe, still competes occasionally but admits he is no longer has the competitive drive.

He leaves most of his racing to 22-year-old Leon, who has continued the family legacy and is now racing in World Superbikes with respectable results.

Meanwhile, Haslam spends most of his time running his racing school at Donington Park, where he passes on his experience to young and old.

'I've done that for nine years now. The school has got very popular now. It means the normal road person can come and have a go round the GP circuit on machines varying from 125 class all the way to 1,000cc class. I really enjoy it because it gets me back on the circuit.'