Brad Binder has tasted success at Le Mans before. Picture: Getty Images
Brad Binder resumes his rejuvenated onslaught on the MotoGP title at the French Grand Prix at Le Mans this weekend.
Binder will be hoping to repeat his brilliant showing at the Spanish MotoGP in Jerez where he won the sprint rave and finished runner-up in the main race to secure a points haul of 32. His total of 62 points is only three shy of Marco Bezzecchi (65), with world champion Francesco Bagnaia out in front on 87 points.
The Red Bull KTM rider also had a productive outing last Monday, during official testing at Jerez. He ended the day eighth fastest, less than half a second off the pace set by Bezzecchi.
Binder and his team were confident of gaining further strides during testing. It was the RC16’s one-lap pace that set up KTM’s brilliant weekend in Jerez, helping Binder and Jack Miller both qualify in the top four. Binder in particular used his second-row grid position to great advantage, launching himself into the lead during both the sprint and main race’s restarts.
Miller held on for third place in both races to move up to fourth in the title race on 49 points.
“Our acceleration is really good and now we just want to understand what we’ll take to Le Mans,” the Australian told the KTM website after testing.
ALSO READ: Improved KTM gives Brad Binder a shot at MotoGP world title
Binder was just as excited to return to a track where he won in Moto3 back in 2016. His best finish at Le Mans in three MotoGP races in eighth.
“It is a bit of a special track and you never know what weather you’ll find there,” Binder said.
His words could just turn out to be very prophetic. There is a 70% chance of showers on Saturday, with rain also scheduled for later in the day on Sunday.
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The two MotoGP qualifying sessions on Saturday are scheduled for 10.50am and 11.15am, with the sprint race starting at 3pm.
The main race on Sunday starts at 2pm.
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