"It will become more aggressive"

The Mike Mangold interview, part 2: The champion discusses his training for the 2006 World Series and the pilots he has to keep a close eye on.

What was the worst moment and the best moment of your 2005 season?

The worst was striking the pylon during the race in Ireland. The best was the victory in Amsterdam. From then on, I knew I could win the World Series.

Looking toward the future, how are you preparing for the 2006 World Series?

There are two parts: airplane preparation and pilot training. Both are equally important. The aircraft has to be constantly maintained, and small modifications can improve the performance. And I’ve got to be in top physical shape. I work out a lot. The special flight doesn’t actually take up much time: before the first race, 20 sorties at half hour intervals.

What is your take on World Series rookie Michael Goulian?

Mike is a strong and talented pilot. Once he gets comfortable in the Air Race, he’ll be a dangerous competitor.

And who will be your biggest rival in 2006? Which of your competitors are capable of major improvements?

The biggest rival will be aircraft reliability – or more precisely, its potential unreliability. It has to work a hundred percent of the time. Individual races can be won by any pilot, but to stay on top you’ve got to dominate most of the races. And to do that, you need a machine you can depend on. Among the pilots, my biggest rival is Peter Besenyei. He’s a great pilot and has a strong team behind him. But I also expect Alex Maclean to post some high finishes. He’s flying an Edge 540 now and is a good race pilot.

To what degree do airplanes really influence the outcome?

I think it is half airplane and half pilot. An above-average pilot doesn’t have a chance in a plane that’s too slow. And a fast airplane won’t always win either.

What’s your view on the future of the Red Bull Air Race World Series?

In five years at the latest it will be all over the world, on all five continents. The race will become even faster and more aggressive. Sponsors, partners and the media will play a larger role. And more resources will push the limits of aircraft technology. I predict that the Red Bull Air Race will become just as important as the NASCAR Series and Formula One.