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Challenger Cup
Berger Wins Challenger Cup at 2018 Red Bull Air Race

Kevin Coleman thought he had done enough to become the first American to win a Red Bull Air Race at home since Kirby Chambliss won in Detroit in 2008, but his dreams were crushed when Florian Bergér bettered his time by 0.263s.

Kevin Coleman flew second in the race and set a new track record with a 1:09.660. Coleman, quite rightly, believed that his time was going to be unbeatable, but knew that if anyone could come close it would be Bergér.

The current Challenger Cup Champion was setting green split times from the beginning of his run, but he looked to have picked up a penalty for flying too high in the gate, but in a replay it showed that the German managed to adjust his flight line just in time to avoid the two seconds. When he crossed the Finish Gate, his time of 1:09.397 saw Coleman pushed down into second.

Patrick Davidson, flying in his first Challenger Class season, flew cleanly and took third place – his second podium of the season – he was just 0.298s behind Bergér. Fourth place went to Baptiste Vignes and Dario Costa, also in his third season was fifth. Daniel Genevey finished out the race in sixth.

Kenny Chiang was scheduled to race today, but due to illness he was unable to participate and therefore was given a DNS and placed seventh in the results.

The top six pilots will now head to Fort Worth for the season finale where one of them will be crowned the 2018 Red Bull Air Race Challenger Cup Champion.

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