Since its inception in 2003, there have been more than 90 races with the Red Bull Air Race. Sadly, with the Chiba 2019 air race, the Red Bull Air Race World Championship has come to it’s end, and what aboslute honor it was to be a part of the magnificent flying circus that it was all those years! Wonderful people, brave pilots, air stunts and incredible locations will all stay forever in my heart, and it was my great pleasure to have had it all captured through the lens of my camera throughout the years.
When 100,000 fans sit along the shoreline to watch their hero race in the World Championship, you know it’s going to be a standout event on the calendar. For 2019 the Chiba race has moved from its traditional spring slot to a September showdown taking place on the 07-08 of the month.
The sprawling metropolis of Chiba is renowned as the birthplace of civil aviation in Japan, is famed for its warrior heritage and is the perfect city to capture the spirit of the World Championship.
Chiba has seen sell-out crowds since it first hosted the World Championship in 2015. Home-grown hero Yoshihide Muroya pulled off a stunning victory here in both 2016 and 2017 when the Japanese pilot was on a course to the World Championship title.
After a disappointing race in 2018, Muroya will be firing on all cylinders to keep his home fans happy.
It was a perfect way to sign off the Red Bull Air Race. Yoshihide Muroya wins his home race for the third time and after five years of being on the overall podium, Matt Hall becomes the World Champion! Here are some of the best photos from today’s action.