The races in
Perth
have traditionally been full of upsets in the past and this year
will likely be no exception. “We had a great weekend in Abu
Dhabi and we’re looking forward to Perth but we have to keep focused
as we’ve learned in the past that the air race road is covered with
banana skins - and we’ll do our best not to step on one,” said
Bonhomme, who prevailed in difficult wind and weather conditions in
Abu Dhabi to win the season opener in March. Bonhomme also won the
last race in Perth
in November 2008. Australia
has nevertheless been a disappointing place in the past for the 2009
champion as he ended up as runner-up to
Austria’s Hannes Arch here in 2008
and to American Mike Mangold in 2007.
Britain’s
Nigel Lamb was a close second to Bonhomme in
Abu Dhabi
last month and with his revolutionary new wings that help him speed
through the turns Lamb is Bonhomme’s most dangerous rival this year,
just two points behind in the championship.
Hungary’s Peter Besenyei took third.
But Bonhomme knows there were at least seven other pilots aside from
Lamb and Besenyei with impressive speed in Abu Dhabi and the 2010
championship will be tighter than ever before as the field of favourites
has widened considerably.
Australia’s Hall, who was the most successful rookie
in Red Bull Air Race history last year with a third place overall, was
flying well in Abu Dhabi and posted the second fastest net time in the
Top 12. Hall has been looking forward to flying in
Perth
for two years. “I'm very excited and focused for Perth,” said Hall, who is from Merewether NSW.
Also hot on the heels of Bonhomme and capable of
winning in Perth are Americans Michael
Goulian and Kirby Chambliss, Pete McLeod of
Canada, Nicolas Ivanoff of
France, Alejandro Maclean of
Spain
and Arch. All the challengers were flying nearly as fast, or at times
even faster, than Bonhomme at various points during the race weekend in Abu Dhabi.
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