MotoGP™ Misano ‘one to forget’ – Krugersdorp’s Binder after brave fight
'I’m glad Misano is over and we’ll do better in Portimao' –
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Krugersdorp High School (KHS) alumnus Brad Binder made the most of long-overdue sunny conditions to take his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team to 11th position at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli during Round 16 of the MotoGP World Championship.
Oliveira was the most advanced KTM racer on the grid in fifth place meaning a prime spot in the middle of the second row. Tech3 KTM Factory Racing pairing Iker Lecuona (eighth) and Danilo Petrucci (nineth) began the race from the best qualification ranking for the squad this season. After two days of rain, cold and damp, race day brought sunshine and a far better climate, although the switch did pose set-up questions and doubts for the entire grid.
Oliveira made a fantastic start to slot into the top four and competed with Pol Espargaro for most of the race for the last step of the rostrum. With four laps remaining the Portuguese lost control and fell at Turn 14. Petrucci was luckless to be hit off the track by Joan Mir in the formative stages of the race, and Lecuona was also out of the running shortly after due to a mistake at Turn 1.
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Brad had to use his second bike to set off from 20th after a tumble in the Sighting Lap. The South African pushed through the pack, reached 15th and continued to search the limit with his set-up, even sustaining a Long Lap penalty for touching track limits. Only a late surge from Valentino Rossi prevented Binder from taking 10th.
Portugal and Spain are the final two countries in the 2021 MotoGP series. A second spin around the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao will occur in a fortnight and the season will close a week later at the Ricardo Tormo racetrack in Valencia.
“All in all, I’d say today is a day to forget,” Brad said.
“I felt quite good for the race and chose the harder tyre. I wanted to feel what it was like on the Sighting Lap but I didn’t have my brakes warm enough going down the back straight and I locked up the front wheel. Not clever.
That’s the first time I’ve ever crashed on the Sighting Lap: not good at all. I tried hard in the race and I felt like I was coming along but I wouldn’t describe it as solid. I’d like to know where I touched the green limits for the Long Lap. I’m really sorry to the team and all the guys for the confusing weekend. I’m glad Misano is over and we’ll do better in Portimao.”
The next race in the 2021 MotoGP series is the Grande Prémio do Algarve in Portugal on November 7.