As a pilot in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, the USA’s Michael Goulian has competed all over the world but never before in Russia. That will change this weekend, when the first Russian race in the history of the sport takes off in Kazan.

Set 500 miles (800 kilometers) to the east of Moscow, Kazan is Russia’s sporting capital, and it is also home to a striking Kremlin that’s a World Heritage Site.

The action in Kazan will kick off the second half of the World Championship calendar. Across the first three races of 2017, Team Goulian has been one of the most consistent in the field when it came to advancing to the Round of 8. With four races left to go, the team is more motivated than ever.

The pilot, who makes his home near Boston in the town of Plymouth, has one more reason to feel excited about the race in Kazan, saying:

“Being an avid hockey player and fan my entire life, I’ve always been a fan of the Russian athletes. Visiting this country is a first for me, and I can’t wait to see what the week has in store for us.”

Fans in the United States can watch:

Qualifying Day [Saturday] – LIVE on the NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com/live at 9:00am EDT, July 22*

Race day [Sunday] – delayed broadcast on NBC Sports TV, the NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com/live at 11:00pm EDT, July 23*

Fans outside the United States can watch:

Full coverage, live, on Red Bull TV or redbullairrace.com/live. Some restrictions may apply.

*Check your local listings for details.