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There Can Only Be One: Bonhomme versus Mangold

3,463 views · Published 7 June 2008 · 1:23 · Indexed 28 September 2026

Channel: Red Bull Air Race · 2008 · Sports

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The two pilots - American Mike Mangold and Britain's Paul Bonhomme - whose memorable battle last year went down to the wire in the season finale in Perth, said they were trying to focus on their own performance in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2008 and not worry about each other -- or the rest of the rapidly improving chasing pack.

"I'm not flying against Paul, I'm flying against the course," said Mangold, who won his second world championship in 2007 by just fractions of a second ahead of Bonhomme after a nerve-racking contest at the end of the season. "There's really no rivalry with Paul. I wish him luck."

Bonhomme, who won three races last season and was on the podium in nine straight races before stumbling to a fifth place in Perth, said he was trying not to look back at the heart-breaking finish, where he was pipped by Mangold -- who won despite a sub-par third place finish.

"I'm really looking forward to the new season," Bonhomme said. "It's going to be interesting. It could well be that everything is going to be different this year and it won't be just a two-man race at the top. Everyone's doing modifications on their planes and it could all be different than it was last year."

Bonhomme said the one thing that worried him was that his hangar was now next to Mangold's at the Red Bull Air Race airport.

"If we talk about tactics too loudly over here he might be able to hear us," Bonhomme said with a laugh.

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About: The Red Bull Air Race World Championship features the world's best pilots in a motorsports competition based on speed, precision and skill. Using the fastest, most agile and lightweight racing planes, Red Bull Air Race pilots navigate a low-level aerial race track made up of air filled pylons, flying at speeds reaching 230mph while withstanding forces of up to 10g. The objective is to complete the course, navigating the 65 feet high specially designed inflatable pylons known as Air Gates in the fastest possible time. Red Bull Air Race pilots must pass between the Air Gates in the correct position taking care not to touch them with their wings. The pilots compete for points at each Red Bull Air Race and the one who accumulates the most at the end of the season is crowned Red Bull Air Race World Champion.

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