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shoes of the guys who went on to win.
Allowing yourself to feel angry and
frustrated is ok, but only if you can
turn those feeling into a constructive
solid learning experience.
Inevitably, racing will always have
high points and low points. It’s a bit
of a cliché, but how you carry yourself
in the low moments is what shapes a
season just as much as the victories.
For the guys on my team and me, we
don’t walk away from the lows with
our heads down. We’re always able to
ride the less favourable results out and
surface on the other side with a plan
for how we can do it all better.
For me, that’s how I know we
deserve the high points in the race
year. I pride myself and I have pride
in my team that we win and lose with
dignity and no matter what, always
make progress. times, but with it now within reaching So, I guess there is a tiny bit of Putting on the race face. predrag
I guess that sentiment is true for distance for a third time in my career, solace for us in being the third-placed vuckovic/red bull content pool
any pilot whether commercial or I dare not consider it for too long. outsiders.
private. There will be days where If the best case is the title, and Many will have written us off
you have the perfect flight, with fourth isn’t a threat, it means the already, but the team and I are looking
amazing conditions and where your worst case scenario for us in Texas is to finish the season by riding one last
preparation ensures everything goes to finish third for the season. Hence, high. There is no doubt, we want to
off without a hitch. we have everything to gain at the final win the final race of the season and if
For every five of those flights, race this year. Of the three teams we can do that, then whether or not
there are probably 10 other flights vying for the title, we have the least to we become the 2018 series champions
where you have prepared just as well lose and the most to gain. will be out of our control. But we
but haven’t achieved with the same Sure, Martin’s team is also in a would have done everything possible
perfection when you soar into the air, slightly similar position to us with less to achieve that goal.
for one reason or another. Sometimes pressure, but not Mike, the pressure Regardless, with no pressure on
that is aviation, it’s frustrating, but we is well and truly on for him. He’s just us, we can get to Texas and enjoy the
still pour our hearts and souls (and become the first American to win on event. I can go out there and focus on
wallets!) into it. home soil in 10 years. The final race my own flying and enjoy myself in the Matt during the finals at the
Back on the racing side of things, of the season is in America and he is track. When I do that, I know I am at seventh round of the Red Bull
we really did think that Indianapolis leading the championship race, in fact my fastest. Air Race at Indianapolis Motor
would treat us better than sixth. But he has one hand on the trophy. Smoke on, Texas is in our sights. Speedway. mihai stetcu
it didn’t, and now the chance to win
my first ever world title hangs by a
thread. Seven points is a lot to make
up on Mike in one race, but hey, he
made up nine points on Martin last
race, so it goes to show that anything
can happen.
There’s also a silver lining on
finding ourselves in third place and
undoubtedly the outsiders for the title,
coming into the final race in Texas:
We can’t finish lower than third this
year, so we have nothing to lose.
In fourth place behind us is Mika
Brageot of France with 36 points to
our 63. With only 15 points on offer
for the winner in Texas, he isn’t a
threat for us. So, in the best case
scenario we will be able to win the race
in Texas and have Mike’s and Martin’s
results fall in our favour to allow us to
become world champions.
Imagine that, a guy from
Newcastle, Australia becoming a Red
Bull Air Race World Champion. It’s
a dream that I’ve entertained many
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