Steve Jones - winner

HUNGARY, 21 AUGUST 2006: BRITISH pilots Steve Jones and Paul Bonhomme put in breathtaking performances to take first and second respectively in the sixth round of the Red Bull Air Race World Series last weekend in Budapest, Hungary.

Jones, flying his new Edge 540 for the first time, raced to the top spot after a stunning display of speed and agility around the course just metres above the River Danube. Fellow Brit Paul Bonhomme was a close runner up in this his second outing in a new plane.

The results mark a dramatic improvement for the British flyers in a competition that has been largely dominated by Americans Kirby Chambliss and Mike Mangold and Hungarian star Peter Besenyei.

Jones was ecstatic about his win: "Fantastic!" he said. "I couldn't have imagined it better. I had an excellent first run which was the basis of my victory. It's an awesome feeling!"

Local favourite Besenyei suffered an agonising defeat after disqualification in the first round for deviating from the course, dashing the high hopes of his legions of fans and fellow countrymen. After striking an Air Gate, a piece of the inflatable pylon lodged in Besenyei's wing, forcing him to deviate from the course in order to shake loose the section of material from his aircraft - an emergency manoeuvre that cost him the race.

"I was flying too fast," said a visibly distraught Besenyei. "We had very different conditions today than during training - there was very little wind. I wanted to be the fastest but in the end I went too fast."

American Kirby Chambliss is still leading the championship but other racers are closing in and with such unexpected results in Budapest and three races left in the Series, it proves that anything can still happen.

Flying at speeds of over 400kph and tackling forces of 10G, the pilots started the competition with the daunting challenge of flying under Budapest’s famous Chain Bridge and then raced through an obstacle course just metres above the water before returning back to the bridge. This is the third time the Air Race has touched down in Budapest and it was the highlight of the national holiday weekend, ending with a magnificent firework display above the Danube.

Fresh from their victory, the Brits will no doubt be gunning for top spots on the podium at their home leg of the World Series which comes to Longleat, Wilts on 2 September.

W: www.redbullairrace.com

RESULTS
1 Steve Jones GBR 02:31.45
2 Paul Bonhomme GBR 02:32.44
3 Mike Mangold USA 02:36.63
4 Michael Goulian USA 02:37.43
5 Kirby Chambliss USA 02:46.74
6 Nicolas Ivanoff FRA 02:48.56
7 Klaus Schrodt GER 02:50.82
8 Alejandro Maclean ESP 02:52.90
9 Nigel Lamb GBR dq
10 Peter Besenyei HUN dq

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1 Chambliss 24 points
2 Mangold 21
3 Besenyei 19
4 Bonhomme 11
5 Ivanoff  7
6 Schrodt 6
6 Jones 6
6 Goulian 6
9 Maclean 3
10 Lamb 2