Geneva, July 2017 – As a pilot in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, the USA’s Michael Goulian has competed all over the world – but never before in Russia. That will change this weekend, when the first Russian race in the history of the sport takes off in Kazan.
Wearing his Alpina Startimer Pilot watch, Michael Goulian hopes for the best result in this weekend’s race.
Set 800 kilometers to the east of Moscow, Kazan is Russia’s sporting capital, and it is also home to a striking Kremlin that’s a World Heritage Site.
And then, of course, there’s the fact that the action in Kazan will kick off the second half of the World Championship calendar. Across the first three races of 2017, Team Goulian had been one of the most consistent in the field when it came to advancing to the Round of 8. But at the beginning of this month, there was a hiccup in that statistic as they incurred a penalty for exceeding maximum G in the opening Round of 14 at Budapest. With four races now left to go, the team is more motivated than ever.
“After a disappointing over-G in Budapest, I’m ready to rebound in Russia,” Goulian asserts.
The pilot, who makes his home near Boston in the city of Plymouth, has one more reason to feel excited about the race in Kazan, saying:
“Being an avid hockey player and fan my entire life, I’ve always been a fan of the Russian athletes. Visiting this amazing country is a first for me, and I can’t wait to see what the week has in store for us!”
Michael Goulian’s Red Bull Air Race debut in Kazan will take off with Qualifying on Saturday, 22 July, followed by Race Day on Sunday, 23 July 2017.
