THAILAND'S Charoensukawattana Nattavude marked his return to racing by storming to an easy victory in the Superbike race yesterday - in his last ride before trying his hand on the touring car circuit.
It was his third Macau title in four years.
''I can't properly express myself. I'm so happy. My dream has come true today,'' said the diminutive Thai, who grabbed pole position on Friday. Nattavude claimed his hat-trick with a thoroughly professional display astride a Kawasaki 750, winning easily from Mobil 1 Kawasaki teammate and three-time Macau champion Chao Kit-choong and Portuguese biker Pedro Baptista.
Nattavude, 30, came out of retirement this year and his decision to race again could not have been more successful as he blitzed his rivals to score with 17.12 seconds to spare.
Chao, winner in 1987, 1988 and 1990, was forced to play second fiddle to Nattavude who led the field by 8.64 seconds by the sixth of 15 laps.
The expected rivalry between Nattavude and fellow Thai Saen Choeisak failed to materialise after Choeisak crashed out of the race on lap six on the right hand turn at San Francisco Hill.