Bonhomme wins Red Bull 2010 opener

March 29, 2010 — Paul Bonhomme of Britain won the first Red Bull Air Race of the 2010 season on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, finishing just ahead of compatriot Nigel Lamb and Hungary’s Peter Besenyei. Austria’s Hannes Arch finished a disappointing 11th after posting the fastest qualifying time on Friday. Arch, who had won the Abu Dhabi season opener 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, his first and only flight. Many other front-runners were also knocked out early on a day of upsets due to disqualifications or technical malfunctions. With temperatures rising above 40 degrees and the strong desert winds suddenly shifting direction just hours before the race, the 2010 season opener over the Arabian Gulf turned into one of the most challenging 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 ended in disappointment as well when he was unable to fly in the final round of four due to technical problems. Canada’s Pete McLeod, a rookie last year, got a career-best fifth place, and American Kirby Chambliss came in sixth. Australia’s Matt Hall was flying well and poised for a spot on the podium but was also forced to retire ahead of the Super 8 round with a technical problem that dropped him to eighth place. “It’s a great start to the new year,” said Bonhomme, who took 12 points for his 12th career victory – and fourth in the last five races going back to last season. Bonhomme, like fellow veterans Lamb and Besenyei, was a master of the difficult weather conditions and managed to stay calm despite some extraordinary pressure. “It’s fascinating what we’ve seen today. The wind changes 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 the race’s most experienced pilots 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.”

Defending champion Paul Bonhomme of Britain, center, won the first Red Bull Air Race of the 2010 season in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Nigel Lamb, left, also of Britain, came in second, and Hungary’s Peter Besenyei was third. Photo credit: Julian Finney / Getty Images Paul Bonhomme celebrates his first place after the Red Bull Air Race day on March 27 in Abu Dhabi. Photo credit: Julian Finney / Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

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