Binder hopes for MotoGP and Grand Prix to come to Kyalami

Local MotoGP rider Brad Binder raced a number of laps around the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on July 13 in the aim of setting a record time.

Krugersdorp-born Binder, who rides for Red Bull KTM Racing is in the country during the break of the MotoGP calendar. The first half of the season has boded well for him so far, with only one race he did not finish.

He was in Kyalami for the challenge called Super Lap, which is to set the fastest lap around the 4.529km-long Kyalami track. Binder was on his Red Bull KTM RC16 bike, and the benchmark time will be disclosed in August. The current best time on a motorcycle stands at 1:48.078.
Before the attempt he said, “I’m looking forward to riding on a track I grew up on, the place that I started riding on when I was a child. There has been so much hard work behind the scenes to make this possible.

“The last time a MotoGP bike came to Kyalami was in 1992, and the last time MotoGP was in South Africa was in 2004. There’s been such a long time since we’ve had a real MotoGP bike on South African soil. I’m looking forward to what we can do on the track.”
Binder also spoke to journalists about the MotoGP season so far. He said he was hoping to continue flying the South African flag high in the second half of the season.

During the conversation, Binder also mentioned the hope in having a Formula One Grand Prix in South Africa amid rumours of a date set for next year’s calendar.
“For the country and for the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, it would be incredible to have a race here. I am really pushing for a MotoGP race to take place as well, and it would be great to have a home race.”

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