U.S. Red Bull Air Race pilot Mike Goulian took third place in the opening race of the series in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Japan’s Yoshihide Muroya was first and Czech Matin Sonka came second. The same three racers were on the podium for the Abu Dhabi race in 2018. Goulian won that race with Muroya second and Sonka in third. Goulian said he used tricky shifting wind conditions to his advantage to earn a podium finish. Many racers picked up penalties or hit pylons because of the winds.
The race series has only one stop in the U.S. this year, a return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oct. 19-20. The next race is to be announced in Europe in the next few months followed by Kazan, Russia, June 15-16; Budapest July 13-14; Chiba, Japan, Sept. 7-8; and a to-be-announced date in Asia in the fall. For the first time, the series will go to Saudi Arabia for the final race of the year Nov. 8-9.
