Disappointing weekend for Brad Binder, but there is hope for KTM

Brad Binder’s troublesome MotoGP season continued in Qatar on Sunday, but there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for the underperforming Red Bull KTM.

After failing to score points in the sprint race, Binder managed to convert his start from 18th on the grid into a 13th place finish in the main race. His team-mate Pedro Acosta earned eight points for finishing eighth to take his overall tally to 24 points, pushing Binder (22) to 12th in the title race.

Marc Marquez (123), who recorded a double at the Lusail International Circuit, leads the championship. His brother Alex (106) and Pecco Bagnaia (97) are his closest rivals.

It was a bittersweet day for KTM in the dessert. Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales stormed through the field to cross take the chequered flag in second place. But he was docked 16 seconds for a tyre pressure infringement which saw him drop down to 14th place.

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Brad Binder chuffed

Vinales’ ride was KTM’s highlight of the season thus far. He not only matched the pace of the Ducatis, but even overtook Marc Marquez for the lead only to relinquish it due to a mistake.

“It was super-good to see Maverick do so well and it will be good for us to see what he did differently and how we can learn from it,” Binder told the KTM website after the race.

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“We tried to change some set-up in the race and it felt quite decent until about ten laps when I started to have massive understeer and I was spinning a lot on the tire. With five laps to go the rear was toasted.”

Team boss Aki Ajo said Vinales’ performance will boost the entire project.

Darryn retires, Ruché in the points

“The podium potential by Maverick is important for the whole KTM family and will give an extra boost to all those involved in the project. We will now push even harder,” said Ajo.

Brad Binder’s brother Darryn Binder recovered from a hand injury sufferer in Texas to qualify 15th in the Moto2 race. But the Italjet Gresini Moto2 rider had to throw in the towel on lap five due to technical issues.

Teenager Ruché Moodley has a better day at the office, The Denssi Racing/BOE rider finished in the points for the third time in four races. Moodley earned three points for finishing 13th and is 19th in the title race on nine points.

The next stop on the MotoGP calendar is the Spanish Grand Prix from 25 to 27 April.