AIR RACE X 2025 Opening Round｜Champion Muroya vs. Challenger Davidson

The 2025 AIR RACE X season kicks off with reigning series champion Yoshihide Muroya aiming for back-to-back titles, while rivals like last year’s third-place finisher Patrick Davidson are determined to challenge his reign. All eyes are also on Australian newcomer Aarron Deliu, making his full-season debut with high expectations.

The opening round featured a technical track stretching 800 meters, with pylons set 200 meters apart and packed with sharp turns. The “Big 8” section, a series of continuous turns, pushes pilots to withstand up to 12G, demanding elite physical control and pinpoint precision.
Davidson dominated qualifying with a sub-60-second run, earning 8 points. Muroya followed in second, trailed by Sonka, Kopfstein, Velarde, Deliu, and Brageot. McDonald, unfortunately, could not race due to technical issues.

In the quarterfinals, the top four seeds advanced as expected. Notably, Davidson recorded an over-G penalty and DNF in Heat D but still moved to the semifinals after McDonald was unable to fly.
Semifinal pairings featured Sonka vs. Muroya and Kopfstein vs. Davidson. Muroya maintained an early lead to win, while Davidson pulled off a mid-race comeback against Kopfstein, widening the gap in the “Sky Loop.”
The newly introduced third-place match saw a Czech veteran showdown, with Kopfstein incurring a pylon hit and over-G penalty, giving Sonka the podium finish.

The final brought together top qualifier Davidson and second-seeded Muroya.
Davidson had declared, “I want to beat Yoshi (Muroya),” making this a deeply personal duel. Muroya, aware of Davidson’s rapid rise, entered the clash fully focused.
Muroya led early with smooth, precise flying, but Davidson steadily closed the gap after the “Big 8.” In a nail-biting finish on the “Final Straight,” Davidson edged past on the inside line to claim the long-sought victory.