Binder claims spectacular grand prix victory

Youngster Brad Binder yesterday became the first South African rider to win a motorcycle grand prix in 35 years.

Binder, 20, riding a works Red Bull KTM Ajo, won the Spanish Moto3, forming part of the 2016 MotoGP at the Jerez circuit in Spain.

It was his maiden grand prix victory and he retained the lead in this season’s Moto3 world title chase.

The last South African to win a bike grand prix was Jon Ekerold, who took the 1981 Italian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Binder won the hard way. After Saturday’s official qualifying session, his KTM was found with non-homologated ECU software. This resulted in Binder being sent to the back of the 35-strong grid.

South African Moto3 rider Brad Binder of Red Bull KTM Ajo celebrates his win during the Spanish Motorcycling Grand Prix at Jerez Circuit, southern Spain, 24 April 2016. EPA/JOSE MANUEL VIDAL

At the start of yesterday’s race, Binder immediately started blasting through the field in demented fashion.

After three laps, he lay 15th overall. And by lap 15, he was fourth. This put him just behind the leading group and he joined the battle for the lead the next time round.

He passed Nicolo Bulega (Sky VR46), Jorge Navarro (Estrella Galicia) and Francesco Bagnaia (Aspar Mahindra) one after the other, taking the lead on lap 18.

Binder leads the year’s championship on 77 points against the 62 of Jorge Navarro and the 47 of Romano Fenati.

Binder, born in Potchefstroom on August 11, 1995, went racing in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookie Cup series in 2008. He moved to the 125cc class in 2011 and into the Moto3 fold in 2012.

He raced for the Aprilia, Kalex KTM, Suter Honda and Mahindra teams before joining the works Red Bull KTM equipe two years ago.

The next round of this year’s MotoGP series will be the Grand Prix de France at Le Mans on May 6.