Red Bull Air Race 2018 - Fort Worth
For 2018, the Lone Star State welcomes back the Red Bull Air Race to the Texas Motor Speedway for the third time, this time hosting the final season showdown. The 1.5-mile quad-oval superspeedway is famous for entertaining NASCAR fans from across the US. See the pilots battle for the World Championship podium at the Texas Motor Speedway between 17-18 November. Join us...
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- Pylon Hit!
Kopfstein into the track at 180kts, a great start. He knows Muroya can be really quick... great form through the chicane... and Gate 7 strikes again as Kopfstein picks up +3s for a pylon hit! That's another game over today and the Czech pilot will be massively frustrated by that pylon hit as he was right on the pace on this run.Kopfstein - 56.456 - Pylon Hit!
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Muroya says his plane likes this cold weather so let's see what time he can lay down... if he wins the heat, the time will decide where he places in the heats... but with three pylons hits out in the racetrack already today it's just a case of waiting and seeing...... and he's in! 179kts and Muroya looking comfortable in the first chicane... the splits are in teh green as we'd expect and some good lines but it seems as though the Japanese pilot is holding something back in this Round of 14 heat. It's clean, the lines are consistent and the VTMs were good but Muroya clearly has more to give in the next heat.
Muroya - 53.724 -
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2014 Fort Worth winner Ivanoff goes out first in heat 6. He says he enjoys these wintry conditions so he'll be looking to put the pressure on Sonka, who's fighting for a World Champion title today.
But the buzzer goes almost immediately as Ivanoff picks up +1s for going into the Start Gate at 181kts... Sonka is really quick this weekend so Ivanoff needs to push hard to reclaim that second. The splits are looking pretty good and the VTMs are tidy and tight... that's a REALLY fast net time as Ivanoff pushes through the Finish Gate but that second makes all the difference. Sonka still needs to go cleanly and can't lose any focus...Ivanoff - 54.403 -
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Sonka needs to progress through this heat as he's chasing the World Champion title... like Goulian and Hall, his chances are resting on his performance right now
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Sonka into the Start Gate at 178kts. He's through the chicane and the splits are 1.111s ahead of Ivanoff. Some beautiful and tactical flying from Sonka, who seems to have nailed his racing lines and plan is playing out for the Czech pilot. The splits stay green as he stays solidly ahead of Ivanoff. No penalties, great lines, good rhythm and SUPERB pace as he goes fastest so far in this Round of 14. Sonka is through.The fight for the World Champion title is still ON!Sonka - 52.764
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Velarde went fastest in FP2 but has struggled in Qualifying... but we could see a return to form and some serious competition for Dolderer.
Velarde into the track at 179kts... great energy and some aggressive flying from Velarde. He knows that Dolderer was lightning fast yesterday and is having to pull off a perfect flight today. We're seeing some great rhythm and the VTMs are strong and solid... he's under review but his time is in tact with no penalties. That was QUICK! If Dolderer delivers, Verlarde could progress as fastest loser.
Velarde - 52.912 -
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Dolderer seems happy and relaxed - he's had a lot of fun in this racetrack so far this week but will he be able to take the heat win? He's lacked consistency this season, with moments of greatness... and a great start for the German... but it's all over before it really started as he picks up +2s for flying too low in Gate and hits a pylon at Gate 7. +5s and that's the race weekend canned for Dolderer.Dolderer - 58.704
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Hall, Brageot, Goulian, Murphy, Muroya, Sonka and Velarde progress as heat winners, with Chambliss joining them in the Round of 8 as Fastest Loser
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Here's the Start List for the Round of 8:Heat 8Muroya vs ChamblissHeat 9Murphy vs BrageotHeat 10Hall vs VelardeHeat 11Goulian vs Sonka
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Heat 11
Goulian vs Sonka
Both in the hunt for the title... THIS COULD BE THE WORLD CHAMPION TITLE DECIDER!
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The Masters Round of 8 will be back at 15:00 local time/21:00 UTC
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Having a drink every time I hear "On the rails!", looking forward to the break to sober up. Cheers from Canada!
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