Brazil adopts Gouliano for Rio race

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Brazil adopts 'Gouliano' for Rio race

Michael Goulian adopts Petrobras colours

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Brazil adopts 'Gouliano' for Rio race

by Erik Kay, May 5, 2010

RIO DE JANEIRO – Michael Goulian has painted his plane in Brazil’s bright green and yellow colours and is hoping South America’s biggest country will adopt him as their pilot for the weekend’s race in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil’s largest company, Petrobras, has already thrown its support behind the North American ace in a new sponsorship deal announced on Tuesday.

"I'm very proud to be flying for Petrobras here in Rio and representing such an iconic company in Brazil,” said Goulian, who has been flying a predominantly green plane throughout his six-year Red Bull Air Race World Championship career and said he feels eminently comfortable adding the bright Brazilian yellow to his Edge 540.

Goulian might now be called “Michael da silva Goulian” by his new Portuguese-speaking fans - or simply “Gouliano” in this sports nation of 192 million that worships its soccer heroes with such legendary names as Pele, Romario, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

“If I fly well and make the people of Brazil and the employees of Petrobras proud, they can call me whatever they want!" Goulian said with a smile when asked about the new name Brazilians might want to pick for him. Rio-based Petrobras, a multinational energy company, is the largest company headquartered in the Southern Hemisphere.

'GOULIANO' FEEDS OFF CROWD ENERGY

Goulian was, like the other 13 Red Bull Air Race pilots, enormously relieved that Brazilian pilot Adilson Kindlemann was not seriously injured in a training accident at the last race in Perth last month that wrecked Kindlemann’s plane. Goulian said he is looking forward to the Brazilian rookie’s return to the racing for the European segment of the season in August and September. Goulian said he is hoping many of the 1 million Brazilian fans expected to watch the race at Flamengo Beach will be cheering for him this weekend.

Goulian got his first career victory in August 2009 at the Budapest race in front of a huge crowd of more than 600,000. The man from Massachusetts who is looking for more wins has had some of his best performances in front of large crowds, a promising omen for Rio where there were 1 million spectators at the 2007 race and a similar number is expected this weekend.

“I love feeding off the energy of large crowds so I'm excited to 'get it on' down on the waterfront here in Rio this weekend,” he said. "We're hoping for a great result. A repeat of Budapest would be perfect."

ZEST FOR LIFE

Goulian, 41, admits that on the surface it might not appear that he and Brazil have a lot in common. But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll discover that there are indeed enough similarities that ought to qualify him, at least temporarily, for honorary Brazilian citizenship.

"I'm feeling like I want to make the people hosting me very proud," Goulian said. "So I guess, yes, I feel like I do have a special connection with the Brazilians."

The always affable Goulian is, alongside Kindlemann, probably the friendliest and most helpful pilot in the world championship. His “boa vida” is unmatched in the 15-pilot field. But it’s not only Goulian’s zest for life that gives him a bit of a Brazilian aura, it is also his elegantly aggressive flying style, his passion for motorsport, his jet black hair, dark features and physically fit body that make him blend in with the local landscape in Rio.

Another similarity, sort of, is that both Goulian and Rio are on the East Coasts of their respective continents. Goulian is from Massachusetts, on the North Atlantic coast and Rio is, of course, on the South Atlantic coast.

"But being from the northeastern part of the United States means cold weather," he said with a laugh. "I wish we could have this fabulous Rio weather all year round where I live in Boston."

Goulian feels for Kindlemann in part because he knows what is like to miss the Rio race - and then listen to the other pilots rave about the experience of flying in front of a million people. Goulian was forced to miss the 2007 Rio race and is clearly savouring the chance to fly here this time around.

"I missed Rio in 2007 so I've been looking forward to coming here ever since," he said. "Doing the test flying has given me a chance to look at the amazing landscape here in Rio. The ways the oceans meet the mountains is just fantastic. Rio is visually just stunning from the air. I wish more people could have the chance to see it as I'm doing this week."