Hong Kong's Cheung Wai-on stopped his bike at a corner, beat his chest and poured his heart out in a tearful burst of emotion after surrendering his ACMC Trophy title yesterday.
The 20-year-old Cheung had to be consoled by a race marshall moments after crossing the finish line in fourth place behind the man he feared most - top Japanese rider Naoki Kato, who rode his Honda RS125 to victory.
In complete contrast to last year's race when he threw his helmet to an adoring crowd in winning his third straight ACMC Trophy, Cheung was reduced to anguish. He was no longer the best amateur rider in Macau and the thought of losing was unbearable.
Cheung desperately wanted a fourth title but this time the Japanese visitors were too strong and Hong Kong's most talented rider said his best was not good enough. Ryosuke Nakaki and Akira Komuro finished second and third to complete a clean sweep for the Japanese raiders.
Cheung finished 3.549 seconds behind Kato, but the Hong Kong rider clipped more than six seconds off his old lap record of 2:49.361. In fact, the top five riders home all improved on Cheung's lap record.
But it was a day that will be remembered not for Kato's win, but for Cheung's tearful loss as his Honda proved no match for his rivals. 'I gave 110 per cent. I did my best, but I lost the race on the straights. We knew the quality of the opposition,' he said.
'I think I might have let my team down. I really never thought about second or third place. I wanted to win from the word go.