Brad Binder reflects on 2021 season, Darryn joining MotoGP

South African MotoGP star Brad Binder is in the country, ready to enjoy his annual week of relaxation from the hard physical training that his job entails.

The 26-year-old Red Bull KTM Factory racer said during a press conference on Monday that he will be doing absolutely nothing in fitness workout terms between now and 15 December, eating and drinking what he wants, when he wants.

“Then it will be back on the treadmill – before I put a leg over a race bike again in 2022, I need to be in absolutely good nick,” Binder said.

The South African finished sixth in this year’s MotoGP world championship, winning the Austrian MotoGP en route. He reflected on a tough 2021 season on Monday, saying that the further up the order one goes in MotoGP, the harder it gets.

“Our KTM suffered from a lack of rear grip this year, with the problem resulting in wheel-spin coming out of slower corners. It prevented us from qualifying in the top half of the grid, and in the races I would have to carve my way past other riders to get into the top 10.

“Luckily I could manage to keep my initial pace and I passed a lot of people, but the closer you get to the front, the harder it gets to pass. I think I did about as well as was possible under the circumstances,” Binder added.

‘Improve qualifying’

Red Bull KTM team enjoyed a productive testing session at Jerez, and will continue with the programme early next year.

“My main focus will be to improve my qualifying performances. If I can start further up the grid, I am sure it will be possible to finish far better than sixth on the points roster next year,” Binder said.

He is hugely excited about being joined on the MotoGP grid by his 23-year-old brother Darryn, who will race for the WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team alongside veteran Andrea Dovizioso next year.

“Darryn is taking a huge stride, straight from Moto3 to MotoGP, but he is a great rider and very good in the testing department.

“That apart, he was too tall to fit into a Moto3 bike, and being comfortable inside the confines of a MotoGP machine will assist him greatly, so I think he could surprise many people,” Binder said.

“One of the things I will always be grateful for is the fact that I got to race against Valentino Rossi. He was always my hero, and it was emotional to finish the race when he retired from the sport.”

After the interview, Binder said he was going to rush to Nandos for a chicken meal.

“You do not get that in Europe – I will be eating a lot of it in my vacation week,” he concluded.