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The Red Bull Air Race came to eastern Asia for the first time on Saturday as the field took part in qualifying in Chiba, Japan.

Nicholas Ivanoff prevailed in a tight battle for the top spot in the 60th race since the sport was launched in 2003, clocking a time of 51.102 seconds.

Matthias Dolderer was forced to settle for second place with a time of 51.530 seconds with series leader Paul Bonhomme in third, after he recorded a time of 51.653 seconds on the unusually fast out-and-back track.

After posting the fastest time in training earlier on Saturday, Austria's Hannes Arch dropped back to 12th after two penalty-marred runs and will face Bonhomme in the head-to-head round of 14.

The qualifying session, which saw 13 of the 14 Master Class pilots fly, was a true spectacle for the avid Japanese fans who lined Makuhari beach on Saturday.

Local hero Yoshi Muroya was down the timesheets in ninth place.

The pilots were flying at top speeds on the long, straight track just some 15 metres above the surface while enduring 'G' forces of up to 10G.