Top 12 spot, more MotoGP™ points for Brad in US
MotoGP™ of Americas delivers Top 12 for Krugersdorp's Brad Binder and KTM.
KTM left a hot and challenging Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas with Brad Binder clutching 12th position and four world championship points as MotoGP™ completed the fourth and final ‘flyaway’ event of the 2022 campaign in the United States.
The Circuit of the Americas was the captivating stage for round four of 2022 MotoGP and after the series had clocked-up airmiles with trips to Qatar, Indonesia and Argentina since the season launched.
A decent resurfacing effort of the 20-turn, 5,5km layout that features a wide range of varied corners and speed demands provided more grip and less bumps. Temperatures were pleasant without being oppressive, but a strong wind was another complication for the riders to handle for 20 laps on Sunday afternoon.
The KTM quartet searched in vain for usable traction and effective one-lap pace in practice and qualification, but had to accept slots in the second half of the start grid. Brad was the furthest ahead with 17th place but still had to attack the field in the first laps to gain ground. The South African reached the Top 10 at one stage before classifying 12th and having recouped five spots. Teammate Miguel Oliveira finished just outside the points in 18th.
COTA was another ‘debut’ experience for Tech3 KTM Factory Racing pair Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez. The Moto2 World Champion rode to 20th and was five seconds behind Fernandez who chased Oliveira and took 19th.
Europe beckons and the first of another back-to-back double begins with the Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal at Portimao in two weeks’ time.
Brad said, “The race was going well from the beginning and we made the right choice with the tyres because the soft option lasted until the end.
I’m not happy at all to finish 12th because I got up into the battle for ninth and ended up tagging the back of a rider and falling back again. There were two laps to go and I couldn’t get back. It’s been a tough weekend but we managed to salvage some points. Let’s see what we can do at the next one.”
After four races in the 2022 season Brad is now in sixth place on the MotoGP™ Championship table with 42 points.
