My goal is to win 2008 title, says Chambliss

Abu Dhabi: Following a disappointing year that saw him relinquish his prized world title, charismatic American Kirby Chambliss will have just one thing on his mind when the 2008 Red Bull Air Race World Series finally gets under way in Abu Dhabi tomorrow.

"My goal is to win the championship in 2008 and that's a realistic goal too," said the 48-year-old Texan, one of 12 elite daredevil pilots gathered in the UAE capital for arguably the toughest motorsport challenge in the world.

Chambliss is one of only two men to win the prestigious crown - fellow American Mike Mangold has won it twice - and he'll certainly be one to watch when the Qualifying Round is held above Abu Dhabi Corniche tomorrow.

Five-time US National Champion, Chambliss will pilot his Red Bull Edge 540 in a spectacular competition, held under the patronage of Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan with the valuable support of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Board.

And after a relatively disappointing season that saw him finish in fourth place behind champion Mangold, Britain's Paul Bonhomme and Peter Besenyei of Hungary, Chambliss is hungry to get back on top.

"We were very disappointed about 2007," he added. "We made some changes to the aircraft early in the season and while we thought the changes would help they actually hurt us. For the most part, I was happy with my flying but, like the saying goes, you can have a great jockey but if he's on a slow horse he isn't going to win."