British Pilot Paul Bonhomme Takes the Trophy Home in the Ulitmate Border Battle at the Red Bull Air Race

DETROIT, MI--(Marketwire - June 14, 2009) - Two hundred and ninety thousand people flocked to the Detroit River to witness the return of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship this weekend. The third stop of the season, the track proved to be difficult for the race pilots riddling the field with pylon strikes, incorrect flying and several disqualifications.

The competition was one of the most dramatic of the season as American Kirby Chambliss was nearly disqualified when his speed through the quaddro was presumed too high. Luckily for Chambliss, the race stewards technical review proved he did not exceed the speed limit. In a reversal of last year, Chambliss gave up the first place trophy to Britain's Paul Bonhomme, whose final time of 1:08.16 brought him his first win in 2009.

"This was by far the hardest race I've ever won if you look at the times the other guys have been posting all week," said Bonhomme. "If you want to win this thing you have to go to the limit."

Bonhomme became the pilot with the most number of wins, since the Red Bull Air Race World Championship began, with his ninth victory and first since Perth, Australia in 2008. Mangold is second in the all-time standings with eight career wins. Arch, who won the first race in Abu Dhabi and was third in San Diego, leads the championship with 33 points ahead of Bonhomme on 32 and Nicolas Ivanoff of France in third with 24.

Pilots sped through the low-level aerial track going 230 mph just 10 feet above the Detroit River. Spectators' eyes were glued to the action throughout the afternoon as Detroit's Hart Plaza and the Detroit Riverfront areas filled with people.

"This was my first time to a Red Bull Air Race," stated Michigan native Danny Mathison. "It was definitely different and much cooler than I anything I have seen before. I mean the planes flew just 10 feet above the ground."

On Saturday in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, the official host city of the race stop this year, NASCAR driver Brian Vickers and Chicago Bears football player Devin Hester joined Chambliss at his Red Bull Air Race Hangar for a firsthand look at his race machine, and to share in each other's love for speed. Chambliss seeks speed in the air, Vickers on the asphalt and Hester on the field.

"Obviously I am a motorsport buff so what better way to celebrate my victory than by attending a race," said Vickers after watching Kirby's top-place Qualifying run through the track Saturday on the Detroit River while celebrating his pole position in the start of today's Sprint Cup race outside of Detroit.

The 2009 season will be broadcast on Fox Sports Network starting in September and episodes from past seasons can be seen on www.hulu.com/redbullairrace.

For video of today's race, go to http://vod.oceanwatch.com, and for high resolution photos visit www.redbullairracenewsroom.com or www.apimages.com.

Results - Red Bull Air Race - Windsor, Ontario

1.    Paul Bonhomme (GBR)           (Final 4)      1:08.16        12 points
2.    Hannes Arch (AUT)             (Final 4)      1:09.31        10 points
3.    Kirby Chambliss (USA)         (Final 4)      1:10.19        10 points
                                                   (incl. Qualifying point)
4.    Mike Mangold (USA)            (Final 4)      1:12.92         8 points
5.    Sergey Rakhmanin (RUS)        (Super 8)      1:22.93         7 points
6.    Michael Goulian (USA)         (Super 8)      SCO             6 points
7.    Matt Hall (AUS)               (Super 8)      SCO             5 points
8.    Nigel Lamb (GBR)              (Super 8)      DSQ             4 points
9.    Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA)         (Top 12)       1:14.45         3 points
10.   Alejandro Maclean (ESP)       (Top 12)       1:15.59         2 points
11.   Pete McLeod (CAN)             (Top 12)       1:16.48         1 point
12.   Glen Dell (RSA)               (Top 12)       1:18.87         0 points
13.   Matthias Dolderer (GER)       (Top 12)       DSQ             0 points
14.   Yoshihide Muroya (JPN)                       DNS             0 points
15.   Peter Besenyei (HUN)                         DNS             0 points


Standings - 2009 Red Bull Air Race World Championship

1.      Hannes Arch (AUT)               33 points
2.      Paul Bonhomme (GBR)             32 points
3.      Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA)           24 points
4.      Matt Hall (AUS)                 19 points
5.      Nigel Lamb (GBR)                18 points
6.      Mike Mangold (USA)              18 points
7.      Sergey Rakmanin (RUS)           17 points
8.      Kirby Chambliss (USA)           13 points
9.      Peter Besenyei (HUN)            10 points
10.     Alejandro Maclean (ESP)          8 points
11.     Michael Goulian (USA)            6 points
12.     Glen Dell (RSA)                  3 points
13.     Matthias Dolderer (GER)           1 point
14.     Yoshihide Muroya (JPN)            1 point
15.     Pete McLeod (CAN)                 1 point

Terms:

SCO - Safety Climb Out

DSQ - Disqualified

DNS - Did Not Start

Full results available at www.redbullairracenewsroom.com.