Brad within reach of Top 5

Sweaty and humid conditions marked the ninth Grand Prix of 2022 and the 31st time the compact Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya in Spain has welcomed the FIM series. The state of the Spanish asphalt proved to be a headache for teams in their quest to maximise grip and also perverse tyre life throughout the 24-lap race distance.

Krugersdorp’s Brad Binder was the most advanced KTM rider on the grid with a berth on the right side of the fifth row. The South African then circulated in close company with teammate Miguel Oliveira for most of the affair as the pair were among the very few racers that selected the hard front Michelin tyre. Brad was able to create a small cushion for himself in 8th as Miguel also circulated comfortably in 9th ahead of Alex Marquez.

Tech3 KTM Factory Racing again tried their hardest to guide their rookie pairing through one of the trickiest events this season and were rewarded with the best results of the campaign. Reigning Moto2 world champion Remy Gardner was less than two seconds from a top-ten classification while Raul Fernandez grabbed his first MotoGP™ point by hurrying to a deserved 15th.

Brad is now 6th in the championship standing while Miguel is next on the list in 11th. The series will pause for a week before the Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland at Sachsenring, Germany on June 19.

“Today (Sunday, June 5) if you look at the positions, I don’t think we can be too unhappy,” Brad said.

“To come from 15th to 8th means some solid points for our tally but it was a difficult race. I couldn’t push like I wanted as I had problems with front traction and was looking after the rear tyre. I just tried my best until the end and that was all I could do.

Following the one-day IRTA test on Monday, my main goal was to make sure the team has a very clear idea of what we need and which direction we have to work, and how they can bring us a competitive package for not only the rest of the season but also next year.”