UK's Paul Bonhomme Prevails In Abu Dhabi Heat
Defending Red Bull Air Race champion Paul Bonhomme of Britain
won the first race of the 2010 season in Abu Dhabi on Saturday with
a hard-fought victory in scorching heat, finishing just ahead of
fellow Britain Nigel Lamb (2nd) and Hungary's Peter Besenyei (3rd)
in an eventful battle over the turquoise waters of the Arabian
Gulf. Austria's Hannes Arch finished a disappointing 11th after
posting the fastest Qualifying time on Friday.
Nigel Lamb, Paul Bonhomme, Peter
Besenyei
Arch, who had won the Abu Dhabi race last year and was the
favorite going in after winning the one Qualifying point on Friday,
was disqualified in the Top 12 round for dangerous flying. Many
other front-runners were also knocked out early on a day of upsets
due to disqualifications or technical malfunctions. With
temperatures rising above 104 degrees and the strong desert winds
suddenly shifting direction just hours before the race, the 2010
season opener turned into one of the most dramatic races in the
six-year history of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.
American Michael Goulian took a strong fourth place, but his day
still ended in disappointment when he was unable to fly in the
final due to technical problems. Canada's Pete McLeod, a rookie
last year, got a career-best fifth place. Australia's Matt Hall was
flying well and was poised for a spot on the podium but was also
forced to withdraw ahead of the Super 8 round with a technical
problem that dropped him to eighth place.
Bonhomme Takes A Turn
"It's a great start to the new year," said Bonhomme, who took 12
points and picked up his 12th career victory. Bonhomme, like fellow
Red Bull Air Race veterans Lamb and Besenyei, was a master of the
difficult weather conditions and managed to stay calm despite some
extraordinary challenges. Bonhomme's winning time was 1:14.06. Lamb
was 0.86 seconds behind and Besenyei was 7.12 behind. "It's
fascinating what we've seen today", said Bonhomme. "The wind
changed direction and it sorts everyone out. The temperature was
also a factor. To keep your concentration up in these conditions is
quite a task. I don't think it's a coincidence (that only veterans
were on the podium). Experience helps on days like today. You have
to keep an eye on what happens and play the tactics just
right."
Lamb and Besenyei, who both struggled somewhat in fair weather
training earlier in the week, rose to the occasion in the heat and
treacherous winds. Visibility was also hampered by desert winds
filled with sand. "Today was a day of race tactics and strategy,"
said Lamb. The Team Breitling pilot added that he hoped to make a
habit of getting on the podium after taking an identical second
place in Barcelona. "One would be deluded to think it's going to be
easy. There are at least 12 pilots this year who have been putting
in times that are within a few seconds of each other. It's going to
be a very interesting season."
Besenyie Clears Pylons
Arch of Team Abu Dhabi was clearly upset with the
disqualification, which stunned thousands of the local fans
watching along the Corniche. "I don't have a clue about what the
stewards saw," he said. "It was a normal racing situation." The
first race of the 2010 season was also a learning experience for
the two rookies. Martin Sonka of the Czech Republic, who celebrated
his 32nd birthday with a strong performance in Qualifying on
Friday, picked up 20 penalty points on Saturday and ended up 13th.
Brazil's Adilson Kindlemann had an even more eventful race, picking
up 28 penalty points including 12 for hitting two Air Gates.
The next stop of the 8-race season takes place in Perth, Western
Australia on April 17 and 18.