Throttle to bottle: first SA MotoGP winner ‘can’t believe it’
KTM rider Brad Binder was at a loss for words after claiming his maiden and historic MotoGP victory at the Czech Republic Grand Prix in Brno on Sunday, while championship leader Fabio Quartararo finished a disappointing seventh.
With nine laps remaining, South African rookie Binder overhauled early leader Franco Morbidelli of Petronas Yamaha before holding his nerve to seal victory in only his third start in the premier class.
The result also represents a first MotoGP win for KTM since making its full-time debut in 2017. It is also the first time a South African has won a race in the premier class.
“Right now I’m lost for words,” Binder said. “This was a dream I had when I was a little kid.”
Morbidelli clung onto second position for his first MotoGP podium, while pole sitter Johann Zarco finished third after a sloppy start on his Avintia
Ducati.
“I’m overwhelmed right now and just enjoying the moment,” Morbidelli said.
“I saw Brad catching me but I decided not to do anything silly.
Now we go to Austria with great joy.”
Zarco expertly held on to a podium finish despite being forced to take a long lap penalty after his involvement in a collision that eliminated KTM’s Pol Espargaro.
Quartararo, who won the opening two races of the season in Jerez, struggled for grip on his Petronas Yamaha to cross the line in seventh.
In a frustrating day for Ducati’s factory team, Andrea Dovizioso finished over 16 seconds off the winning pace in 11th, one place ahead of team mate Danilo Petrucci.
Valentino Rossi came fifth on his Yamaha, while team mate Maverick Vinales’s 14th-placed finish meant no Spaniard made it to the MotoGP podium for the first time since the British Grand Prix in 2015.
Vinales’ disappointing afternoon ensured Quarataro extended his championship lead to 17 points, while Morbidelli moved up to third. —