Brit flies high after beating his Arch rival

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Cambridgeshire-based pilot fought off a fierce challenge from defending champion Hannes Arch to clinch the 2009 title in front of a record crowd of 800,000 spectators in Barcelona yesterday.

Bonhomme arrived in Spain for the season's climax with a four-point lead over his Austrian rival although that was cut by a further point after Arch topped qualifying on Saturday.

But Bonhomme was quickest in the race, guiding his plane through the 15-gate, four-mile obstacle course in 1min 22.87sec - almost a second faster than runner-up, compatriot Nigel Lamb.

Bonhomme said: "It's been a huge amount of pressure. It's just a question of how you deal with it at the right time. I thought I'd better get my skates on and that worked."

The 45-year-old is the first British champion of the series, which has been running since 2003. The competition was held over six rounds with Bonhomme also winning the events in Canada and Portugal.