Bonhomme takes lead in Red Bull Air Race Championship

The top of the standings in the Red Bull Air Race are as close as ever, but after the race in Fort Worth, Texas, Hannes Arch saw his lead disappear entirely. Paul Bonhomme is the new man on top – but his lead is far from secure.

Despite finishing off the podium, Paul Bonhomme had reason to celebrate over the weekend at the end of the Fort Worth race: he had overtaken the top spot in the standings.

Bonhomme’s fifth place moved him one point in front of Arch, who finished eighth in Texas and is tied for second with Nigel Lamb. Lamb got a big boost in the standings thanks to another second place finish, his third in a row.

That means with two races left, the championship is coming down to an exciting three-way dual for the top.

The full Red Bull Air Race Championship standings

Nicolas Ivanoff followed up his first podium of the season at the last race in Ascot, England with his first win in Texas.

“"I feel really, really happy. I got a podium last race and a victory now,” the Frenchman said. “I'm feeling really good for sure.”

Matt Hall, currently in fourth place overall, had made an extra effort to spend more time practicing in the plane during week leading up to the Fort Worth race. His sixth place finish means he’s a long shot for finishing in the top three on the season.

"A couple of days ago it was looking as if this could be my race, so I'm disappointed that we could've done better,” said the Australian, who admitted that a penalty incurred from hitting a pylon the day before the final may have affected his performance. “It just so happened that I wasn't firing on all cylinders today.”

The pilots now have a long break ahead of the next event in Las Vegas on October 11 and 12 – plenty of time to prepare for the crucial penultimate race of the season.

Arch – who had spent much of the season at the top of the standings – is relishing the challenge to catch up to Bonhomme and take the title at the last race of the season in his native Austria.

It's better for me to be the hunter. The pressure is less and that definitely helps because you can go into the race with the attitude of 'nothing to lose'. (Hannes Arch)

However, it could be England’s Nigel Lamb who trumps both Arch and Bonhomme as the season winds down. He has been the most consistent pilot of the season, finishing second three times and winning once in six races.

“We're taking one race at a time, but our strategy is to win,” Lamb said.

The 2014 Red Bull Air Race Championship is on the home stretch! It’s a toss-up between Bonhomme, Arch, and Lamb for the season title, and the pilots will be fighting for every point at October's race in Las Vegas. We’ll have all the latest here on DHL InMotion.