Rivals Michael Rutter and John McGuinness both couldn't remember the last time they did a jigsaw puzzle. And it showed yesterday as their team of six motorcycle riders finished last behind the world touring car squad and the Formula Three mob as the 52nd Macau Grand Prix got off to a light-hearted start.
The three teams of six were asked to complete giant jigsaw puzzles of landmarks which are part of the historic centre of this town - the A-Ma temple, the Ruins of St Paul's and the Leal Senado. And despite the crafty machinations of the motorcyclists - who 'stole' some of the puzzle pieces off the 'car boys' - it was the four-wheeled drivers who had the last laugh.
'It shows how clever the car boys are. They have all the luck,' smiled McGuinness. 'I must have been a small boy the last time I did a jigsaw puzzle. It was fun, and this sort of thing captures what this event is all about.'
Rutter, 32, winner of the Motorcycle Grand Prix for the past three years (McGuinness finished second on all three occasions), is back for his 13th visit. Even though he failed to recognise the town's landmark venues, he knows the 4.2km Guia circuit like the back of his hand. 'I would love to win it again. And I know, if I do it again this time, I will equal Ron Haslam's record of six wins here. But there is no pressure on me. I will take it as it comes,' said Rutter, who like McGuinness, will be riding a Honda CBR1000R.
The battle between the pair will be one of the highlights of the weekend's racing, which will climax in the showpiece Formula Three race in which the nephew of the late Ayrton Senna - Bruno Senna - will be taking part.
McGuinness, 31, will be aiming to halt the dominance of Rutter. 'He is a hard man to beat. Last year I lost by just 0.2 seconds. Hopefully it will be different this year,' said McGuinness.