Paul Bonhomme Rides Hot-Streak To Barcelona For Finale

“As racers we will always analyse our mistakes and hopefully improve,” Bonhomme said ahead of the 3-4 October season finale in Barcelona. He could have wilted after the disappointment of losing the title at the very the end of the 2008 season he had dominated early on. But he didn’t and has been flying the precision race better than ever this year. “My experience in Porto in 2008 was disastrous at the time but a great experience in the long term.”

Bonhomme, who celebrates his 45th birthday today alongside his rival Arch who turns 42, has been on a mission ever since. He climbed to the top of the standings this year with a career-best 55 points out of a maximum 65. He also has two 2009 victories in the five races even though his plane was clearly not the fastest for the first four races. He trailed Arch and his superior airplane through the first half of the season before taking the lead in round four in Budapest, where the Austrian fell to a season-worst fourth place. Arch only beat him once (Abu Dhabi) in a race going back to the 2008 finale in Perth even though the Austrian was often faster in training.

“Hannes was handed the championship last year – by me,” he said when asked about Arch’s suggestion that Bonhomme would struggle to cope with the championship pressure this year because he had never won a title. “My pylon hit in London and my DQ in Qualifying in Porto essentially gifted him the title last year. Barcelona will be great fun if you are a spectator.”

Bonhomme, famous for taking his afternoon tea break at the Red Bull Air Race Airport, said he well understands the pressure of the final race after having come up short in the final battle for the championship in 2007 and 2008. Despite finishing second to Mike Mangold in 2007 and Arch in 2008, he is confident 2009 will be his year.


Paul Bonhomme Rides Hot-Streak To Barcelona For Finale By Mike Mitchell

		September 22, 2009, Barcelona, Spain – Paul Bonhomme, who has won two of the last five rounds in this year’s Red Bull Air Race World Championship and come second in the other three, could clinch his first title next week in the final battle of 2009. He opened a four-point lead over defending champion Hannes Arch of Austria with a resounding victory on 13 September in Porto. The British ace has been virtually unbeatable since the penultimate race of the 2008, where he threw away the title with a heart-breaking result. But Bonhomme said as painful as it was to finish 10th in Porto last year, it turned out to be watershed moment that helped him bounce back in style with a hot streak that includes two pressure-packed victories in the last three races.

“As racers we will always analyse our mistakes and hopefully improve,” Bonhomme said ahead of the 3-4 October season finale in Barcelona. He could have wilted after the disappointment of losing the title at the very the end of the 2008 season he had dominated early on. But he didn’t and has been flying the precision race better than ever this year. “My experience in Porto in 2008 was disastrous at the time but a great experience in the long term.” Bonhomme, who celebrates his 45th birthday today alongside his rival Arch who turns 42, has been on a mission ever since. He climbed to the top of the standings this year with a career-best 55 points out of a maximum 65. He also has two 2009 victories in the five races even though his plane was clearly not the fastest for the first four races. He trailed Arch and his superior airplane through the first half of the season before taking the lead in round four in Budapest, where the Austrian fell to a season-worst fourth place. Arch only beat him once (Abu Dhabi) in a race going back to the 2008 finale in Perth even though the Austrian was often faster in training. “Hannes was handed the championship last year – by me,” he said when asked about Arch’s suggestion that Bonhomme would struggle to cope with the championship pressure this year because he had never won a title. “My pylon hit in London and my DQ in Qualifying in Porto essentially gifted him the title last year. Barcelona will be great fun if you are a spectator.” Bonhomme, famous for taking his afternoon tea break at the Red Bull Air Race Airport, said he well understands the pressure of the final race after having come up short in the final battle for the championship in 2007 and 2008. Despite finishing second to Mike Mangold in 2007 and Arch in 2008, he is confident 2009 will be his year.