On April 11–12, 2025, the ADNEC Marina Hall in Abu Dhabi transformed into the global stage for FPV drone racing as the Drone Champions League (DCL) hosted the Falcon Cup Finals. More than 2,500 fans filled the venue, creating an electrifying atmosphere where speed, precision, and strategy defined the event.
Raiden Racing emerged as the ultimate champion, defeating Cyclone Racing in a decisive 22–9 victory. Their journey was anything but easy. After being narrowly outpaced in the semi-finals, Raiden fought back through the rebound rounds and ultimately secured the title. Cyclone Racing finished as runner-up, Spain Drone Team (SDT) impressed as a semi-finalist, while the DCL Wildcard Team concluded their run in the quarter-finals.
Highlighting Raiden Racing’s dominance, pilot Yuki Hashimoto achieved the fastest overall time in the finals, clocking an impressive 0:55.843. Additionally, teammate Vicent Mayans recorded the fastest individual lap of the entire event, blazing through the course in just 9.405 seconds.
Adding to the excitement of the competition, the DCL Falcon Cup Finals marked the real-life DCL racing debut for the 16-year-old sensation PlatOnAir (Platon Cheremnykh) from Spain Drone Team (SDT). PlatOnAir showcased incredible talent, achieving the fastest time for his team at 1:01.552, and clocking the fastest lap for SDT at 10.748 seconds.
The competition format kicked off on April 11th with the gripping semi-finals: Raiden Racing, Cyclone Racing, Spain Drone Team (SDT), and the exciting DCL Wildcard Team. In the initial rounds, Cyclone Racing narrowly edged past Raiden Racing, but Raiden made a powerful comeback through the rebound rounds, ultimately leading them to clinch the championship title.
The Falcon Cup Finals were just the beginning. Fans can now look forward to the Eagle Cup, the Hawk Cup, and the much-anticipated DCL World Final 2025, each promising even greater excitement and competition. For those who missed the action live in Abu Dhabi, the full replay will premiere on YouTube on April 26, 2025.
Fastest Pilot: Yuki Hashimoto (Raiden Racing) – 0:55.843
Fastest Lap: Vicent Mayans (Raiden Racing) – 9.405 seconds
Congratulations to Raiden Racing and all participating teams for delivering an unforgettable event filled with high-speed action and incredible talent!