Page 20 - AA 2018_11

A RACER’S EDGE Coming to a crescendo
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MATT HALL
If you can’t ride the lows, then you don’t deserve the highs

Matt congratulates Michael he 2018 Red Bull Air Race World America and it was another result opponents, and like us have had their
Goulian, close friend and winner Championship season has been that stung a little. We again had a fast ups and downs across the first seven
of the Indianapolis Motor nothing short of a rollercoaster plane, but another pylon hit in the races of the season.
Speedway round. balazs gardi/red Tfor our team. We began the year Round of 8 sent us packing from the Martin has won the most races with
bull content pool in Abu Dhabi with a heavy race plane, race. three, while Mike and I have two each.
yet still netted a solid fifth place. Then Now, we have just one race to All three of us have had race results
we scored back-to-back wins in France go in the season – at Texas Motor that went begging, and yet we’ve all
and Japan with an improved and Speedway in Fort Worth, USA – and rebounded in critical moments where
slightly lighter paint job on the plane. our strong season, albeit with two others may not have been able to do
From there it was third in Hungary, results that went begging, will come to so.
then seventh in Russia – and this one a crescendo. The 2018 world title is on It’s frustrating and addictive at the
‘The only hurt. We had what we think was the the line, and we are one of three teams same time how quickly the points and
standings have changed in the 2018
fastest plane, but a pylon hit cruelled
in the running.
The only issue is, we’re in third
issue is, our chances in the Round of 8… But and seven points behind the leader. season so far. Nevertheless, the one
constant has been Mike, Martin and
that’s racing, and you move on.
Three weeks later in Austria we
we’re in third narrowly missed winning, only to There are only 15 points on offer for myself trading the wins – the highest
the winner, so it’s going to be a big
of the highs.
When the results don’t go your way,
and seven be third with the top three pilots weekend. such as Russia and Indianapolis for us,
My two title rivals are Michael
separated by just 0.083 of a second
points behind in the closest ever finish to a Red Goulian of the USA, who is in first and you end race day feeling down. Your
Bull Air Race in history. Then at the
head starts running through what
Martin Šonka of the Czech Republic,
the leader.’ start of October we finished sixth who is only two points ahead of you could have done differently, and
you secretly wish that you were in the
at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in
us in second. Both are formidable
20 AUSTRALIAN AVIATION