Brad sets final gears in motion ahead of MotoGP™ 2023
Krugersdorp's MotoGP™ sensation Brad Binder said they are more or less ready to go into the season after a two-day session in Portugal allowed the Red Bull KTM works squad to drill through solutions and options.
MotoGP™ teams left the heat of Malaysia last month to reassemble and bask in the sunshine of the Algarve in Portugal for the second and last appointment in preparation for 2023.
The two-day session allowed the Red Bull KTM works squad to drill through solutions and options to be ready for the 21-race championship (and brand new Sprint format) as well as look towards optimum settings for the Grande Premio de Portugal at the same fast and technical circuit at the end of March.
Also read: Q & A with Brad Binder ahead of 2023 MotoGP™ season
The Red Bull team revealed in its latest Newsletter that Brad Binder and teammate Jack Miller were given a second opportunity to give their feedback on the potential of the RC16s around the 15 corner and 4.5 km layout in southern Portugal.
The climate was steady and ideal for testing duties, even if the undulations of the track and diversity of the curves mean it is a unique setting for bike behaviour and competitiveness.
Also read: Close podium finish for Brad at Aragon MotoGP™
Brad sat in P6 at one stage and ended the second day with the 9th fastest circulation just half a second from P1 and close to the lap record. The South African was reaching for rear grip but noted an improvement on Sunday. Miller, who is still trying to unlock the full possibilities of the race bike in what was just his third outing, was continually making gains. The Australian was just nine-tenths of a second from the peak of the overall classification.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing now has a few precious days back at the race workshop in Munderfing to condense the rest of the data accumulated in Portugal before the whole effort returns to the Algarve for the first real race action of ’23 on March 25 and 26.
Ahead of the first race, Brad is very optimistic as he plans on representing not only South Africa but Krugersdorp on the international stage.
“We made a good step forward today [March 12]. We had to re-think things last night because I wasn’t that happy with what we were doing: the team did a great job to make me more comfortable on the bike and I could push a bit harder. We are closer to where we need to be. The time attack went better than I expected. There is a step we can still make before the race but I think we are more or less ready to go into the season.”
