They were the two words Matt Hall had been dreaming of - and now they sit alongside his name.
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World champion.
The Newcastle pilot had been a runner-up in the Red Bull Air Race world championship three times.
Heading into Sunday's final round in Chiba, he just needed to finish third to hold off Japanese star Yoshihide Muroya, who was chasing his second title.
With the 2019 series the final year of the championship, it was his last chance.
And with it all on the line, Hall delivered the goods, finishing third to turn the dream into reality.
"There was pressure there today, I have been through this multiple times before," Hall said.
"But there was even more pressure this time because it was the last chance to do it, with the race ending. I was trying to play it cool in front of the cameras and keep it on rails, but deep down it was a tough week."
The win lifted a huge weight from his shoulders.
In 2015 he was eight points behind Paul Bonhomme and almost clinched the title by winning the final race of the season in Las Vegas.
Last year it was Martin Sonka who got the better of Hall in the last moments of the final race to beat him by three-tenths of a second and snatch the title.
"It is an absolutely huge relief, I was so worried that I would become the most famous bridesmaid in history, so to actually finally get it is huge. It was becoming so frustrating. I feel we have earnt it," he said.
"I try not to say that I deserve stuff, but we have always been there, and we have always been pushing the championship leaders.
"To be on the podium five times for the championship and not get one would have been something you don't get over for the rest of your life. I can finally say I'm a world champion."
Hall is only the 10th racer to take home the world championship and his win means he is the last Red Bull Air Race world champion.
"I'm gonna be having a beer when I'm 90 and still telling everyone I'm the reigning champion," Hall said.
He'll be heading back to Australia this week where he and the team will travel to Parkes for the AirVenture Australia airshow.
With no other immediate plans for the future, Hall plans to focus on his joy flights business, which operates from Lake Macquarie airport.
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