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Matthias Dolderer finished tenth at the fifth round of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in New York City (USA) on Sunday. Dolderer, who flew his new race plane, an Edge 540 V3, was on a blistering time through the challenging track over the Hudson River. A two-second penalty at the penultimate gate due to incorrect knife-flying cost him the chance to enter the Super 8. "Today was not my day. Of course, I'm not satisfied", said Dolderer. "Few things didn't turn out as we would like. We had some problems. New race plane, new race track, maybe that was the reason. Now we'll look forward to the next race in Germany. We'll be back." Britains Paul Bonhomme claimed victory with Nigel Lamb (GBR) and Kirby Chambliss (USA) taking second and third respectively.]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=47&tipo=0 Mon, 21 Jun 2010
Just two days after his strong result at the Red Bull Air Race in Windsor (CAN), Matthias Dolderer is working hard to prepare for a successful second half of the season. The 39 year-old German completed first test flights in his new race plane, an Edge 540 V3 produced by American manufacturer Zivko Aeronautics. Race debut will be next week (19th/20th of June) in New York City at the fifth stop of the World Championship 2010. OKLAHOMA (USA). ''It's a big moment to fly a new airplane straight off the production line'', says Matthias Dolderer, who picked up Volkswagen as a main sponsor of the team a couple of weeks ago. ''First test flights went well. The airplane seems faster, but we won't know until we get it on the race track. I'm confident that we can finish on top.'' ''The aerodynamics are much better than my current Edge and there's less weight on-board. Now, we can move the weight around and alter the centre of gravity. This can affect the flight characteristics quite a lot. It took over 4000 man-hours to complete the V3. On top of this, we have a new Ly-Con engine with more horsepower'', explains Dolderer. Although the V3 - Version 3 - looks like a complete new design, it is an evolution of the well-proven Edge 540. Eric Zivko, vice president of Zivko Aeronautics: ''Structurally, the V3 is the same as its predecessor, but cosmetically and aerodynamically it's 65 per cent different. The fuselage and the wingtips are new, the landing gear is shorter and we optimized the cockpit layout. The V3 is purely made for racing.'' The V3 doesn't fulfill only the needs of the pilot but also those of the team technician. It used to take one day to take the Edge apart to transport it to the next race location. Now the technician's job takes no longer than a few hours. Unlike his old Edge, Dolderer's V3 is now painted in snow white. ''So I've got a new girlfriend and am switching from a redhead to a blonde,'' jokes Matthias Dolderer. Its race debut will be next week at the Red Bull Air Race in New York City. ''The plane is nearly ready to race'', Dolderer says. ''We have to do some smaller modifications and fine-tune the plane. Additionally, we'll install the telemetry equipment. We're on schedule for New York. It will be a thrilling race.'']]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=45&tipo=0 Fri, 11 Jun 2010
Mit einer eindrucksvollen Vorstellung hat sich Matthias Dolderer am Sonntag in der Red Bull Air Race Weltmeisterschaft 2010 zurückgemeldet. Beim vierten Rennen der Saison in Windsor (CAN) flog der 39-jährige Allgäuer auf den fünften Rang. Lediglich 29 Hundertstel trennten Dolderer vom Einzug in die Runde der besten Vier. Sieger vor 110.000 Zuschauern an den Ufern des Detroit River wurde der Österreicher Hannes Arch. In der WM-Gesamtwertung verbessert sich Matthias Dolderer mit 19 Punkten auf Platz neun. Das nächste Rennen findet am 19./20. Juni in New York City statt. ''Ich habe ja bereits geahnt, dass der fünfte mein Platz hier in Windsor ist. Ein bisschen schmerzt es schon, dass ich das Finale so knapp verpasst habe, aber ich bin dennoch sehr zufrieden. Die ganze Woche über bin ich konstant unter in den Top 5 gelandet mit guten Zeiten und sauberen Linien. Das gibt viel Selbstvertrauen nach dem enttäuschenden Ergebnis in Rio de Janeiro. Das Team hat perfekte Arbeit geleistet. Jetzt freue ich mich, in New York mit meiner neuen Edge 540 V3 an den Start zu gehen. Es wird Zeit wieder auf dem Podium zu landen'', so ein kampflustiger Matthias Dolderer. Statistik Red Bull Air Race Windsor, Kanada Super 8: P5, 1:09.97 min., 2-Sekunden Zeitstrafe an Gate 9 Top 12: P3, 1:08.95 min. Qualifying 2: P5, 1:13.13 min. Qualifying 1: P10, 1:21.87 min., 8-Sekunden Zeitstrafe an Gates 7, 9 Training 4: P5, 1:15.13 min., 2-Sekunden Zeitstrafe an Gate 3 (''Inkorrekter Horizontalflug'') Stand Red Bull Air Race Weltmeisterschaft 2010: Platz 9, 19 WM-Punkte]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=44&tipo=0 Mon, 07 Jun 2010
Matthias Dolderer placed fifth in Saturday's Qualifying for the Red Bull Air Race in Windsor, Canada. The 39 year-old German posted a 1:13 clean run in Q2 to move up the table. Britain's Nigel Lamb took pole position, with title contender Paul Bonhomme claiming second. The race is scheduled to begin at 2.00 pm local time on Sunday. ''I am consistent in the top half in 5th position which seems to be the place for me in Windsor. I wouldn't mind if it stays like this but I wouldn't mind if it would be better either'', Dolderer joked. ''Finally I made a clean run without any penalties today. I'm happy after Qualification and I hope I can carry this on for tomorrow's race. I lost maybe a second between gates 12 and 13. In the last knife-edge gate I made a wide turn because I wanted to have a really secure angle to go into the chicane. Today I went for a clean run and I think that's the way to go.'' Statistic Red Bull Air Race Windsor, Canada Qualifying 2: P5, 1:13.13 min. Qualifying 1: P10, 1:21.87 min., 8-seconds penalty at gates 3 Training 4: P5, 1:15.13 min., 2-seconds penalty at gate 3 - ''Incorrect level flying'' Training 3: P5, 1:14.15 min. Training 2: Cancelled Training 1: P6, 1:17.73 min. Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2010 Standing: 10th place, 12 WC points ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=43&tipo=0 Sat, 05 Jun 2010
Matthias Dolderer placed fifth in Friday's final training session for the Red Bull Air Race in Windsor, Canada. The 39 year-old German was clocked in 1:15.13 (2-second penalty included). Defending champion Paul Bonhomme had a clean run and was 3.85 seconds in front. ''I'm quite happy with my performance. 5th place is a good base for tomorrow's Qualifying'', said Matthias Dolderer. ''The Windsor track is almost the same than in 2009. It's a tricky and tactical one. The wind speed and direction can change quickly on the river. More than usually, it's important to fly clean lines and penalty-free. I hope I can improve a little bit more and catch some world championship points. Statistic Red Bull Air Race Windsor, Canada Training 4: P5, 1:15.13 min., 2-seconds penalty at gate 3 - ''Incorrect level flying'' Training 3: P5, 1:14.15 min. Training 2: Cancelled Training 1: P6, 1:17.73 min. Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2010 Standing: 10th place, 12 WC points]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=41&tipo=0 Fri, 04 Jun 2010
"I'm satisfied with my performance today. The standings doesn't mean too much cause everybody has to get used to the track first. Nevertheless, it was a good start. I'm feeling comfortable in the track and know where I can save some time. I'm looking forward to try different lines in tomorrow's training 3+4." (Matthias Dolderer)]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=40&tipo=0 Thu, 03 Jun 2010
Matthias Dolderer Racing is pleased to announce that Volkswagen has joined the team as the main sponsor. The upcoming race in Windsor, Canada (June 5th/6th) will initiate this long-term partnership between the Wolfsburg automaker and the 39 year-old Red Bull Air Race pilot from Southern Germany. ''It's great news to have the sponsorship support of Volkswagen'', said Matthias Dolderer. ''Volkswagen is an innovative, exemplary German company. This partnership is a perfect fit and gives us a fantastic base for fulfilling our ambition to compete at the top level.'' With its logo prominent on Dolderer's race plane (Edge 540), hangar and team liveries, the Volkswagen brand has a strong global platform to promote its sporty cars to a broad public. Alongside the team partnership, Volkswagen will also be global sponsor of the World Championship itself. The next and fourth round of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2010 will take place on June 5th/6th in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, followed by New York on June 20th and Germany on August 8th. ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=39&tipo=0 Tue, 01 Jun 2010
Heftige Regenfälle machten Matthias Dolderer beim dritten Stopp der Red Bull Air Race Weltmeisterschaft 2010 in Rio de Janeiro einen Strich durch die Rechnung. Der deutsche Pilot wollte beim Rennen in der brasilianischen Metropole eigentlich ''Gas geben''. Doch das schlechte Wetter sorgte für einen vorzeitigen Abbruch des Rennens. Laut Reglement wurden die Ergebnisse des Qualifyings als Rennergebnis gewertet. Dolderer, der aufgrund einer Zwei-Sekunden-Strafe am Samstag Rang 10 belegt hatte, ist nun mit 12 WM-Punkten Gesamt-Zehnter. ''Das war einfach nicht mein Wochenende. Ich hatte gehofft, im Top-12-Rennen weiter nach vorne fliegen zu können. Nach dem Rennabbruch zählt nun leider mein Ergebnis von gestern. Punktemäßig war es im Vergleich zu den vorangegangenen Rennen also ein Rückschlag. Jetzt muss ich in Kanada kräftig aufholen, und ich hoffe, dass mein neues Flugzeug dann schon einsatzbereit ist.'' (Matthias Dolderer)]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=37&tipo=0 Mon, 10 May 2010
Matthias Dolderer took 10th place in Qualifying for the third stop of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. The 39-year old German was clocked in 1:25.40 minutes. His time was marred by a 2-second penalty at gate 4. Dolderer will take off in tomorrow's race at 11.15 local time. ''I tried different lines comparing to yesterday's training. Unfortunately, it didn't work out. Additionally, I got two penalties. I'm happy that I directly qualified for the main race but overall I wanted to perform better. Now, I've to open up the throttle tomorrow. Matthias Dolderer, Race No.: 21 Statistic Red Bull Air Race Rio de Janeiro Qualifying 1: P10, 1:25.77 min., 2-second penalty at gate 5 (''Incorrect knife flying'') Qualifying 2: P10, 1:25.40 min., 2-second penalty at gate 4 (''Incorrect level flying'') Training 1: P6, 1:25.40 min. Training 2: Cancelled Training 3: P8, 1:23.42 min., 1-second penalty due to ''Insufficient Smoke'' Training 4: P8, 1:24.70 min., 2-seconds penalty at gate 5 - ''Incorrect knife flying'' Compensation Training: P2, 1:22.44 min. Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2010 Standing: 8th place, 10 WC points ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=36&tipo=0 Sat, 08 May 2010
''Ich bin mit meiner Leistung heute zufrieden. Im vierten Lauf habe ich eine Zwei-Sekunden-Strafe kassiert und bin auf dem Achten gelandet. Overall läuft es aber gut. Meine Zeit aus dem Compensation Training hat gezeigt, dass ein Platz im vorderen Feld durchaus machbar ist. Wichtig ist es, morgen keine eigenen Fehler zu machen. Ich denke, an eine 1:22 (min.) können wir rankommen. Von daher sind wir guter Dinge. Ich freu mich aufs Qualifying.'' (Matthias Dolderer) Matthias Dolderer, Startnummer: 21 Statistik Red Bull Air Race Rio de Janeiro Training 1: P6, 1:25.40 min. Training 2: Gecancelt Training 3: P8, 1:23.42 min., 1-Sekunde-Strafe aufgrund ''Insufficient Smoke'' Training 4: P8, 1:24.70 min., Zwei-Sekunden-Strafe an Gate 5 (''Incorrect Knife'') Compensation Training: P2, 1:22.44 min. Stand Red Bull Air Race Weltmeisterschaft 2010: Platz 8, 10 WM-Punkte]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=35&tipo=0 Fri, 07 May 2010
Matthias Dolderer was in an upbeat mood after the final training session in Perth, saying he had a plan to improve upon his 1:33:25 training time. ''It's alright and I feel I am flying smooth enough,'' said the German pilot now in his second season who picked up 2 penalty seconds for flying too high in the track. ''Better too high than too low. This training run was much better than the first one this morning. I think I can save some time in the track somewhere; I'm almost sure I know where. I hope it works out. I don't push it too much. Statistic Red Bull Air Race Perth Final Training: P5, 1:33.25 min., 2-second penalty "Too High" Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2010 Standing: 7th place, 5 WC points ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=34&tipo=0 Fri, 16 Apr 2010
DOLDERER MISSED THE FINAL 4 AFTER BORDERLINE DECISION BY THE STEWARDS "I was back on the track - fully motivated - and had a good run. I could have easily made it into the Final 4 at this chaotic race today. The decision of the judges was a narrow margin. I was a little bit low, but definitely not flying unsafe. It's disappointing, but this is racing. Now, we have to wrap things up. I'm looking forward to the Perth race." (Matthias Dolderer) Matthias Dolderer, Race No.: 21 Statistic Red Bull Air Race Abu Dhabi Top 12: 1:18.52 min., 2-second penalty Super 8: Disqualified due to dangerous (low) flying Result Red Bull Air Race Abu Dhabi: 7th place Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2010 Standing: 7th place, 5 WC points ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=33&tipo=0 Sat, 27 Mar 2010
''Overall, I'm not satisfied with my performance today. In the first qualification run I had a pylon hit. Afterwards I was a little bit distracted and left the track. In Quali two, I had to fly safely and slowed down. It's definitely not the plane, I should be able to fly one or two seconds faster with it. Achieved the minimal goal with a position in the Top 10 but not my expectations. Tomorrow I'll have to perform better.'' Statistic Matthias Dolderer, Race No. 21 Qualification 1: Disqualified Qualification 2: Position 10, Best time: 1:18.38 min, 2-second penalty due to incorrect level flying at gate 3. ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=32&tipo=0 Fri, 26 Mar 2010
The Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2010 starts today with the Qualiying of the traditional season openerer in Abu Dhabi (UAE). Matthias Dolderer is ready to race. The 39-years old wants to continue with the good results from training and to qualify in the Top 6. Three strong training runs (fourth, fifth, six) and a "one-off" in training four is Dolderer's balance of the last days. Just one hour before take off to the first flying session, Dolderer is very optmistic: "Actually, I like the track. My results have been satisfying except of the fourth training. We analysed last night, where I lost time in the track. I think for today we'll be able to catch up. The plan is to fly clean lines in the first run, and attack in the second" The Qualifying starts at 1500 local Abu Dhabi time. The race will take off on tomorrows March 26 at 14.15. Fans, friends and family members will cheer for Matthias from his homebase in Tannheim, where a live group watching is set up. ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=31&tipo=0 Thu, 25 Mar 2010
"The first training session this morning went quite well. But I'm definitely not satisfied with the fourth training. Even without the penalty I would have been slower than last days. I don't know yet where I made the mistakes and lost time. We'll have to analyse it. Tomorrow's a new day. I'll try to fly cleaner lines and avoid beating myself."]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=30&tipo=0 Thu, 25 Mar 2010
Matthias Dolderer is back in his element. With only four days to go before the first race of the Red Bull Air World Championship 2010 in Abu Dhabi, the 39-years old German completed first training flights - though without official timings. "I almost forgot how much fun it makes to race just meters above the ground", Dolderer rejoiced after his run through the 5647 m aerial race track featuring air-filled pylons.. "Everything is running smooth so far. The new engine seems to have some good power. Right now, I can't assess the performance in comparison to my competitors. During next days we'll know more." The first official training will start tomorrow's Wednesday. The Qualifying for the race in the capital of the United Arab Emirates is scheduled for Friday, with the main race taking off on Saturday. Friends, family members and fans will cheer for Dolderer during a live broadcast at his home base in Tannheim, GER.]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=29&tipo=0 Mon, 22 Mar 2010
Three weeks to go before the Red Bull Air Race World Championship starts. After intensive preparations during off-season Matthias Dolderer is raring to go. The 39-years old German looks to continue his success in season opener in Abu Dhabi on March 27. Tannheim - ''I can hardly wait until season starts'', said a highly motivated Dolderer. ''We've invested a lot of time and energy into the setup of the Edge during last months. Now, I just want to sit back in the cockpit, start the engine and go racing.'' Dolderer, who spent the off-season with intensive training in California (USA), has set his sights for the upcoming season clearly on topping last year's results. This will not be an easy task as Dolderer had a sensational run in his first year as a Red Bull Air Race pilot in 2009. He scored more championship points (22) in the second half of the season than anyone else - except world champion Bonhomme and runner-up Arch - to thoroughly shake up the race hierarchy. Whether Matthias can build on his success also in 2010 will not only depend on the human factor, but also on the performance of his Edge 540. ''I can't assess its performance in comparison to my competitors right now. We installed a new engine which has lot more horsepower than the old one, but the aerodynamical modifications didn't make an impact so far'', explained Dolderer, adding: ''Overall it should work out. We'll know more in Abu Dhabi after first qualifying round at the latest.'' The race plane will be transported from the training camp in US directly to Abu Dhabi. Dolderer himself will arrive in the capital of the United Arab Emirates ten days before to the race to fine-tune the Edge and prepare himself for the battle. Dolderer will use the remaining period for intensive fitness training and team meetings. Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2010: 01. Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) - March 27, 2010 02. Perth (Australia) - April 18, 2010 03. Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) - May 9, 2010 04. Windsor, Ontario (Canada) - June 6, 2010 05. New York (USA) - June 20, 2010 06. EuroSpeedway Lausitz (Germany) - August 8, 2010 07. Budapest (Hungary) - August 20, 2010 08. Lisbon (Portugal) - September 5, 2010]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=28&tipo=0 Sat, 06 Mar 2010
Visalia, USA - Matthias Dolderer can count again on the support of powerful partners during the Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2010. Four weeks before the first race of the season, Casio, Playboy and Total signed up again their sponsorship contracts. Good news for the 39 years-old German, who currently prepares the race plane and himself in a pre-season training camp in California, USA. ''I'm very proud that my partners confide in our team. Their support from last year was brilliant and a crucial element of our success'', Dolderer warmly welcomed the renewed sponsorship deals. ''We're looking forward to a thrilling season and I'll do my very best to reach the podium together with my partners.'' Casio serves again as Official Team Supporter in 2010 and will use their association with Matthias Dolderer to promote their G-SHOCK brand of shock-resistant watches. Casio will also release a new line-up of pilot's watches, which Dolderer tested in extreme situations during its development phase. Besides Casio G-SHOCK, Matthias Dolderer could also win over Playboy as Official Team Supporter. Red Bull Air Race fans will get excited as Playmates join the team again at the European races. Total has also come on board. The petroleum concern will extend its sponsorship support and make a significant appearance in 2010. Matthias Dolderer himself has spent the last days near Los Angeles (USA). Together with his technical director Kelley Brow, Dolderer works on the plane's set-up and prepares himself mentally and physically for the season opener in Abu Dhabi (UAE). The backing of his partners will be a great help in doing so. www.playboy.de ; www.g-shock.eu ; www.total.de ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=27&tipo=0 Fri, 26 Feb 2010
LAUSITZ, Germany - The Red Bull Air Race World Championship returns to Germany in 2010 with a race at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, the first time the high-speed, low-altitude competition will be held at a motorsports race circuit. The world class track just south of Berlin will be the venue for the 7th stop in the 9-race 2010 championship. Taking place on 7-8 August, the race will be one of the highlights in a year of celebrations at the EuroSpeedway marking its 10th anniversary. The EuroSpeedway grandstand, the largest and most modern in Europe, will provide spectators with a unique perspective of the race, enabling them to view not just the race itself but also the pit lanes where the hangars of the 15 pilots and their teams will be set up directly in front of the grandstand. This will give the crowd a first-hand glimpse of how the pilots prepare their powerful 540-kg propeller planes for the race and they will be able to watch the pilots take off and land from the runway which will be located close by. At other races around the world the race airport is usually set up far from the track. "We are delighted to be able to present a top sports event to the fans of Germany and to the neighbouring countries Poland, Czech Republic and Austria, which will entice thousands of spectators to Lausitz,'' said the managing partner of the EuroSpeedway Verwaltungs GmbH Josef Meier. ''It will also be the highlight of the 10th anniversary of the EuroSpeedway Lausitz.'' "We're extremely pleased to be returning to Germany,'' said Red Bull Air Race CEO Bernd Loidl. The first German race was in Berlin in 2006 at Tempelhof Airport. ''It's a country with a rich motorsport tradition and millions of fans have been following the racing here on television. EuroSpeedway is going to be a fantastic venue. It's going to be an exciting race weekend.'' German pilot Matthias Dolderer, one of the championship's rising stars, is looking forward to racing in front of a home crowd. He joined the championship in 2009 and got the first podium of his career in the final race in Barcelona and became one of the top 3 pilots in the second half of the season. ''I'm thrilled that there will be a race in Germany this year,'' said Dolderer. ''It's a great opportunity to make the Red Bull Air Race better known in Germany and it's going to be brilliant to fly in front of my home crowd. Naturally I hope that we'll have more races in Germany. It is one of the world's top motor sport countries.'' The race at the EuroSpeedway will also be something of a homecoming for Martin Sonka, a 31-year-old rookie from the Czech Republic who recently qualified for a place in the championship. The race track is only 90 km away from the Czech border and about the same distance from Berlin. Sonka will be joined by another rookie in 2009 - Brazilian Adilson Kindlemann. While most Red Bull Air Races are held over rivers, lakes or ocean shorelines such as London, Perth or Barcelona, there have been a handful of races held on land - such as Longleat (UK) and Berlin in 2006 as well as Monument Valley (USA) and Interlaken (Switzerland) in 2007. The race at EuroSpeedway, Lausitz will be the only race held over land this year. (By redbullairrace.com)]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=26&tipo=0 Thu, 14 Jan 2010
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone of you - fans, friends and partners - for your incredible support throughout the Red Bull Air Race 2009 season. 2009 was an outstanding year for my team and me. A dream came true with a cockpit in the Red Bull Air Race world championship. We reached all our goals by getting the podium and a top ten placement overall. One highlight after another. The fan tour to the race in Budapest was just phenomenal. Your vibes were amazing and a great thrust of motivation. We'll top it next year, promised. I also thank all those who kept their fingers crossed from home. The 2010 season will be even more exciting and our team aims high. After a short break during public holidays we'll work hard to take off at full throttle at the season opening in Abu Dhabi. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Many thanks, Matthias ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=25&tipo=0 Tue, 15 Dec 2009
Matthias Dolderer achieved a sensational result in the final race of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2009 with a third place on the podium. The German rookie posted a strong time of 1:24.32 - only a two second penalty hinded him from taking the top spot. ''A dream came true today for us'', said Dolderer. ''If I hadn't received the penalty, I could have won the race. But we reached all our goals by getting the podium so a big thanks to my team.'' Dolderer got ninth championship points and ended his rookie season at the Red Bull Air Ra-ce World Championhship on ninth place. Brit Paul Bonhomme won the title in front of Hannes Arch. ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=24&tipo=0 Sun, 04 Oct 2009
Matthias Dolderer was only just behind Paul Bonhomme in todays Qualifying for the final round of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2009 in Barcelona. A clean 1:23.07 on his first run secured a place for tomorrow's Top 12. In second Qualifying session the German rookie speeded up even more but a two-second penalty prevented a new career-best from being set. ''The only thing that was disappointing is that I got the penalty, otherwise I would have been in second place,'' said Dolderer. ''But overall I'm more than pleased. The plane is running well and the team is good. I do like the track. I think I have a realistic chance for the podium tomorrow'' The final race starts on Sunday (04 October) at 14.30 local time. One million people are expected to watch the action from the beaches of the Barcelona. ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=23&tipo=0 Sat, 03 Oct 2009
Barcelona - After claiming a brilliant second place already in yesterday's training Matthias Dolderer won the third session this morning with a time of 1:22.95 minutes. In final training at afternoon the German rookie was even more faster and racing head-to-head with current leader of the world championship Paul Bonhomme, until a technical problem with the air gates forced him to climb out of the track. ''In the fourth training the time was really good - equal to Pauls - then a pylon came down by itself. I had to do a safety climb-out'', said a little bit frustrated Dolderer, adding: ''After holding for a long time I got the clearance to re-enter the track. But my mind was too busy worrying about my low fuel level so I made a mistake.'' Dolderer is looking forward to the Qualifying: The speed is already there. Now I need to focus myself and do the same thing with the aircraft tomorrow again.'' The Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 3.30 pm on Saturday (03 October). The Race will take off on Sunday (04 October) at 2.30 pm. ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=22&tipo=0 Fri, 02 Oct 2009
Barcelona - Matthias Dolderer stunned the rest of the field with a 2nd place in the first training before falling back to 8th. Dolderer: ''All in all I'm pleased with that. It's a turn-filled course. We showed we've got a good engine, it's similar to Arch's. And the plane's aerodynamics are good. We haven't gotten everything out of this engine yet. We're hoping to cut a few more seconds off the time with more performance from the engine and better flying on my part. We'll hope the others make some mistakes so we can get into the finals.'' 1st Training Session: 1:24.71 min., 2nd place, no penalties 2nd Training Session: 1:26.39 min., 8th place, 2 penalties]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=21&tipo=0 Thu, 01 Oct 2009
With only four days to go until the last and decisive race of the 2009 Red Bull Air Race season on Barcelona's Front Marítim, Matthias Dolderer is just three points behind the top ten. The German rookie is currently in excellent form and wants to fight for the podium. Over one million people are expected to view the race from the beaches. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday. BARCELONA, Spain - ''I'm real motivated and looking forward to the race. We're on the upswing since we solved some technical issues and got a competitive plane'', said Dolderer, who placed career-bests 5th and 6th in the last two races. ''My goal for Barcelona is to reach the Final 4, podium would be even better. If I'm able to fly without penalties, I could manage it.'' Not an easy task: Barcelona is expected to be one of the most challenging races so far this year. With the track located on an open coastline, nature will play a role in the outcome. Sudden shifts in wind direction and ocean swells which could cause the Air Gates anchored to floating barges to rise and fall slightly will require the pilots to be extra vigilant in order to avoid costly time penalties. ''The Barcelona race track is tough, probably the most challenging track so far. It won't be easy to keep the best line if the wind blows strongly on-shore. But it's definetely a worthy track for the final race of the season'', Dolderer explained. Qualifying takes off on Saturday 3 October at 15:30 local time followed by Race Day on Sunday 4 October starting at 14:30. ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=20&tipo=0 Tue, 29 Sep 2009
Matthias Dolderer (6th) faltered in the Super 8 when he picked up four seconds in penalties. It had been a great race for Dolderer until that point with his recently upgraded engine really providing the power needed to succeed in this sport. The German rookie, who had flown superbly in the earlier Top 12 session with a sub 1:10 run, posted a 1:14:07 in the Super 8. Dolderer's time without penalties would have placed him comfortably in the Final 4. ''I'm getting faster and faster,'' he said afterwards. ''In Barcelona my goal is to at least reach the Final 4. I know my plane is fast and my skills are improving all the time so I want to reach the Final in the next race.'' ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=19&tipo=0 Mon, 14 Sep 2009
Matthias Dolderer (5th) took his place among the fastest pilots with a 1:11:09 in his first run. Despite being pulled out of the track for exceeding the G limit, Dolderer was happy that he'd got to grips with the Porto track. ''All the tracks are challenging but this track is very fast and not as technical as Budapest. I feel really comfortable in the track and it's a lot of fun to fly it,'' said a delighted Dolderer after Qualifying. ''I could have gone faster and I know where my mistakes were but fifth place is cool. I'm super happy that three rookies are in front.'']]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=18&tipo=0 Sat, 12 Sep 2009
Porto and Gaia, the Portuguese cities on the Douro River will be hosting the race for the third year running after 1.000.000 spectators watched the world's best pilots in action in 2007 and 2008. The race track is one of the fastest on this seasons calendar. Tight, straight line without any Knife Edge Gates or a Quadro. The pilots will fly with the maximum permissible entry speed of 370 km/h through the start gate and try to keep it at least to the first vertical turning maneuver. ''The major challenge here in Porto is the chicane followed by the vertical turns. You'll loose time easily if not flying the best line'', explains Matthias. ''Another point is the G-Limit. You have to take care not pulling to hard.'' Exactly that happened to Paul Bonhomme in 2008. He got disqualified and lost all prospects for the title. The approach to the Red Bull Air Race airport is a challenge too. The pilots have to focus on touching down properly on the short runway which is just 500m long. Crosswinds make it even more difficult. Anyway, spectators will be happy. They have a good view on the Airport action from the beach. ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=17&tipo=0 Wed, 09 Sep 2009
After getting a career-best 5th place in Budapest, Matthias Dolderer hopes to continue the good streak at this weekend's race in Porto, Portugal. The race strategy - announced at beginning of the season - worked out well. The German pilot is just four points behind the Top 10. However, Matthias Dolderer keeps a level head and focus on smooth runs: ''I don't feel any pressure. Flying steady is more important for me as a rookie than getting lots of points. But of course I'll try to enter the Super 8 again.'' The way is set, even though the German Team didn't do further modifications since Budapest. The new engine has a lot more power and could be an advantage on the Porto high-speed track. The Qualifying starts at 14:30 on Saturday, 12 September, the Race at 14:00 on Sunday, 13 September. German Television RTL will broadcast the Red Bull Air Race Porto at 12.15 on 27 September. ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=16&tipo=0 Tue, 08 Sep 2009
German rookie Matthias Dolderer said a combination of a red-hot engine, enthusiastic fan backing and lady luck was behind his surprising rise to fifth place at the Red Bull Air Race in Budapest. Dolderer, who used the newly tuned engine to record one strong training run after another before the race, also beat Australia's high-flying rookie Matt Hall for the first time in his career in Budapest and the German will be looking to repeat the feat at the next race in Porto and Gaia on 12/13 September. ''We were able to reduce the plane's weight by about 15 kg before the Budapest race and did some tuning to the engine,'' said Dolderer, who collected seven championship points with fifth in Budapest to raise his season total to eight and move far in front of two other rival rookies - Yoshi Muroya of Japan and Pete McLeod of Canada. ''It was great to get fifth place in my fourth race. But I got fourth in Qualifying the day before and it would have been even better to have been able to repeat that again in the race.'' Dolderer, 38, got off to a solid start in his rookie year with one point for 11th place in his first race in Abu Dhabi but was shut out of the next two races in San Diego and Windsor -- with an unlucky 13th place in both those races. But his fortune changed dramatically in Budapest - possibly helped by the appearance of a new assistant dispatched by his sponsor, Playboy. Alena Gerber, the Oktober 2008 Playmate of the Month, came with a charter flight full of Dolderer fans from Germany and helped the crew of the German ace at the Red Bull Air Race airport. But Gerber, wearing an eye-catching combination Playmate outfit/flight suit overalls, did more than just help push Dolderer's plane on and off the tarmac. ''She's very good looking and I thought she could distract some of the other guys,'' Dolderer said with a mischievious grin. ''In any event she brought me good luck.'' He said the modifications to his engine worked extremely well. ''It's essential for a good performance,'' he said. ''As soon as you've got a good engine you can fly up at the top of the pack. The engine made a huge difference. It was important to get the plane in top shape in the break and that's exactly what we did. We've seen that as long as I do a decent job we've got the equipment now to compete near the top.'' Dolderer admitted that beating Hall, the Australian rookie whose record-breaking accomplishments this season have eclipsed the other three rookies a bit, was especially satisfying in Budapest. ''It's a super feeling.'' Dolderer said the support from 148 German fans who came to Budapest in a special charter flight from his home town of Tannheim was also a big help. ''It's a good feeling to have a lot of fans cheering for me, friends and family,'' said Dolderer, who added he would like to organise a special fan charter at more races in the future. ''On the one hand there's a bit more pressure but on the other hand it was actually more relaxing for me. There were so many people there for me.'']]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=15&tipo=0 Tue, 01 Sep 2009
Matthias Dolderer showed his rivals what he is capable of with a new, powerful engine by finishing just outside the Final 4 ahead of Nicolas Ivanoff and Matt Hall. The German pilot, who is now racing with a Lycon upgraded engine, was elated with his highly placed finish. He admitted to having personally upped his game since the start of the season. ''We have learned a lot over the last races,'' said Dolderer. ''We have tried to set up our team well and had the sense to get the best performance out of everything and now it's my job to fly the plane as fast as possible. It can still fly faster. I know where I lost a few seconds in the track today but fifth place in the fourth race... perfect. At the beginning of the week I had difficulties getting through the track smoothly but I prepared myself a little better mentally and finally it worked out. It was a pretty curvy course, with not even one second in a straight line which is different to other courses like San Diego and Abu Dhabi. In the end I just loved the track and I would like to go back a couple more times to get it perfect.'']]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=14&tipo=0 Fri, 21 Aug 2009
In front of 150 excited fans Matthias Dolderer managed to step up to the top 4 qualifiers at the Red Bull Air Race at Budapest. The German rookie was delighted with the best perfor-mance of his career, confirming his strong training results on Tuesday with two solid Qualifying runs without penalties. ''I'm super pleased and super happy that it worked out so well today,'' said Dolderer. ''I like the track and my airplane has more power now.'']]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=13&tipo=0 Thu, 20 Aug 2009
Matthias Dolderer (4th) was delighted to post a career-best 4th place in training, finishing ahead of Paul Bonhomme for the first time. But the German rookie tempered his own enthusiasm by pointing out: ''Even though it was the most important training session, it was still only training. The time sheet that counts is on race day.'' Dolderer was pleasantly surprised with his time (1:15.37) but thinks he can fly faster. ''I made a few mistakes but all in all it went really well. It's a cool feeling (to be in front of Bonhomme)."]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=12&tipo=0 Tue, 18 Aug 2009
Matthias demonstrated a solid performance in todays training after a race break of nearly nine weeks. '' "The track looks smooth at first view but it is very tight, especially between gate 3 and 4'', explains Matthias. ''My first runs weren't good at all. In the second training session I could improve my times which makes me confident for tomorrows training and the Qualifying on Wednesday" Highlight was entering the track under the famous chain bridge which might be the start and finish line for the upcoming race depending on the water level. "Flying under the chain bridge was quite fun. It didn't distract me at all.'' Tomorrow ist he second training day. The first session will start at around 1000. We'll keep you updated. Keep fingers crossed. ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=11&tipo=0 Mon, 17 Aug 2009
Brand new at Red Bull Air Race: More than hundred fans will accompany race pilot Matthias Dolderer on a specially-chartered Boeing 737 to the next round of the world championship in Budapest, Hungary. The race on the high speed circuit above the Duna river will be thrilling. We did first test flights already today and everything worked out fine. Chief technician Kelley Brow from USA travelled to our homebase at Tannheim weeks ago to modify the race plane properly regarding aerodynamics and weight reduction. In combination with tailwind from our fans Matthias is optimistic about entering the Top 12 here in Budapest. ''It's my first European race and I'm looking forward to compete in front of my family, friends and fans. That motivates me even more to demonstrate a good performance.'' The 2009 Red Bull Air Race Budapest track is very similar to the track in 2008, except that gates 3/15 and 7/11 are ordinary knife edge gates in front of the parliament building instead of a quadro. This will be the key challenge of the race. Absolutely breath-taking, not only for the fans but also for us a rookie team: If water levels permit the pilots will be fly underneath the picturesque Chain Bridge which marks the start and finish of the track. We're looking forward to meeting a lot of you face to face next week. Keep fingers crossed! For all those, who can't accompany us on Fanflight 21: We'll keep you updated as always here on our website. Smoke On Matthias Dolderer Racing Team]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=10&tipo=0 Fri, 14 Aug 2009
If you've ever dreamed of flying through the pylons, now there's your chance at Tannkosh. Red Bull Air Race is available as a breathtaking simulation game. You can fly whole day through the official track of the upcoming race in Budapest. The four fastest pilots will compete for attractive prizes in the Final-4 session at 1930. Afterwards there's a meet and greet with race pilot and local hero Matthias Dolderer. - Smoke On -]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=9&tipo=0 Fri, 17 Jul 2009
Chartered jet to take fans to Red Bull Air Race Budapest in August For the German fans following the progress of rookie race pilot Matthias Dolderer, there is now the opportunity to arrive at the next race in style. An exclusive hospitality package, offered for Red Bull Air Race fans, includes return flights to Budapest on a specially-chartered Boeing 737 for 140 friends, family and supporters. As the first ever airline solely dedicated to fans of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, the initiative provides a fantastic opportunity for German supporters to see Dolderer in action as the second half of the 2009 season begins in August. ''The idea for Fanflight 21 was born last winter when my friends asked for a bus trip to support me at the Red Bull Air Race in Budapest,'' explains Dolderer, who would love to see a round in his home country in the future. ''We played around with that idea and due to our enthusiasm for flying, we finally came up with chartering a whole airliner.'' Passengers on the flight can sit back and relax as the airliner leaves Allgäu Airport in Memmingen first thing in the morning on Qualification day, Wednesday 19 August. Luxury all the way Guests will stay in a 4-star hotel close to the race track along the Danube River and will be able to watch the Qualifying sessions on Wednesday 19 August as well as the Race on Thursday 20. Seeing the action up close and personal is a unique experience and although the TV coverage conveys the tension, excitement and drama of the sport, hearing the roar of the propellers live from beside the track is priceless. To further enhance the experience, Dolderer and his team have negotiated exclusive VIP behind the scenes access for those on the Fanflight. If you've ever wondered just what happens in the hangars at the Red Bull Air Race airport, now you can find out... meet Dolderer's team members and ask those questions you'd love to know the answers to in a rare personal audience with Team 21. All guests will be presented with signed T-shirts to take away as well as Red Bull Air Race binoculars to help see the action in even more detail. For those that would like to make the experience more memorable, there is also the option to purchase discounted tickets to the VIP hospitality areas at the Race Club or even better for the High Flyers Lounge, where all the pilots retire to after the final. It's a great chance to meet the pilots in person and share a glass of Champagne after the excitement of the race. Complete travel package There is also time to enjoy a sightseeing tour of Hungary's famous capital city before returning to Germany. Budapest's famous Chain Bridge is one of the city's highlights as well as the distinctive parliament building along the river. This enchanting city boasts both natural and architectural beauty so the sightseeing will be a calming antidote to the fast-paced racing. The return flight leaves on the evening of Friday 21 August. The cost for the VIP Fanflight package is €599. Tickets and travel enquiries should be directed to www.airventures-reisen.de Text: Kirsten Corrigan]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=8&tipo=0 Sun, 12 Jul 2009
German Formula One driver Adrian Sutil paid a visit at Matthias' homebase in Tannheim to fly some aerobatics with the Red Bull Air Race pilot. They both had a lot of fun when flying loopings, rolls and other aerobatic maneuvers. Afterwards they talked about the Red Bull Air Race world championship and its similarities to the Formula One. ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=7&tipo=0 Mon, 06 Jul 2009
Matthias Dolderer dropped into Zeltweg (Austria) last Friday and Saturday, performing a Red Bull Air Race demo together with his competitors Hannes Arch, Peter Besenyei and Alejandro Maclean at the AirPower09 - one of the biggest airshows in Europe. Right after the presentation of the first race aircraft ever, a Bleriot XI of 1908, the four pilots flew back-to-back through the eleven-gate course. The audience of 280.000 was enthusiastic, many of them stood in the line for autographs later on. ''Flying in the track was so much fun and a good preparation for the next race at the same time. The fans were amazing. It's great to see the development of our sport.'' Besides the Air Race demo Matthias flew with his favourite of the Flying Bulls fleet - a Chance Vought F4U-4 ''Corsair''. ''It was a perfect weekend for me down here at Zeltweg. I met a lot of friends and could do what I love. Fantastic.'' Henceforward, Matthias Dolderer Racing team will prepare itself for the European races. The first one takes place on 19/20 August in Budapest. ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=6&tipo=0 Mon, 29 Jun 2009
What a thrilling race down here in Windsor, Ontario, CAN! At first: Matthias did not enter the Top 12. He got disqualified for dangerous flying in the Wildcard Session. It happened in the chicane shortly before he finished his run. Matthias made a course correction to avoid a pylon hit: "I made a small manoeuvre to avoid the pylon, like a correction not to hit the pylon and I do not see why I should be disqualified for that, but if that is how it looked then fine. By the time the stewards told me to knock it off I was at the Breitling finish gate already. Overall I think it was okay, I did a good time that would have pushed me further up today." As expected the other pilots had a lot of pressure. In the Top 12 and Super 8 we saw a lot of pylon hits, not finished runs and penalties of flying too high or incorrect level. Thrilling day at the Red Bull Air Race in Windsor. Now Team 21 is looking forward to the race in Budapest. With some modifications and the support of many people that will join us on FANFLIGHT 21 we will do well - promised - ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=5&tipo=0 Mon, 15 Jun 2009
Today the Race is on. The weather is great and we expect a lot of spectators again. Matthias will start in the Wild Card Session and fight for one place to enter the Top 12. His take off is at 12.57 in about 35 minutes from now. At the moment everything is quiet at the Red Bull Air Race airport but this is just the calm before the storm. Keep your fingers crossed for some good runs of Team 21. ]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=4&tipo=0 Sun, 14 Jun 2009
Four sessions of ups and downs - this is the outcome of yesterday's training. In the first run Matthias flew a smooth line and ended up on 7th place despite 4 seconds penalty. In third and fourth training session he just couldn't settle in and had some problems with the tight track such as many other pilots. His performance in ensuing compensation training was good again: "It is a very challenging track. The first training was OK, the second one we didn't fly and the third and fourth weren't good at all. I didn't get the rhythm. In the compensation training I had a 1:14 which was my fastest time without penalties so I know I can do it. I look forward to the qualifying and if the compensation training counted then I would have been in about 8th place so I hope I can repeat that. I was disappointed after 2 and 3 as they called us out of the track in 3 early but overall a good day but a very challenging track. As rookies it's important that we have as much time in the track as possible." Today's Qualifying Sessions will begin at 1400 local time and we'll try hard to get a good starting position for the race tomorrow.]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=3&tipo=0 Sat, 13 Jun 2009
Team Matthias Dolderer Racing is proud to be supported by Speedweek. The German magazin reports on every thrilling motor sports including - of course - the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. "I'm flying lots faster since my wing and fuselage are branded with Speedweek. Nigel Lamb was totally surprised as we flew together last time. It was really hard for him to catch up" Matthias joked with a little bit of seriousness behind. More information about Speedweek you'll find on www.speedweek.de]]> http://www.matthiasdolderer.com/eng/p-news.php?quale_news=1&tipo=0 Mon, 08 Jun 2009