Solid debut for Binder
JEREZ: SA RIDER ENDS 13TH IN MAIDEN MOTOGP RACE
Andre de Kock
South Africa’s Brad Binder, the first rider from this country to ever contest a MotoGP, started his MotoGP career in impressive style at the Spanish Jerez circuit yesterday.
Having qualified his works Red Bull KTM in 11th place for the Gran Premio Red Bull de España on Saturday, Binder had a blinding start and finished the opening lap in eighth place.
He took another place on lap four, but then suffered a slight off-track excursion that dropped him to 18th place, 30 seconds behind the race leaders.
The South African fought back and eventually finished 13th in his maiden event.
He was the quickest rider around Jerez on the final lap of the race, with his efforts earning high praise from the race commentators and other experts.
The race victory went to the 21year old Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) – his first in two-wheeler racing’s premier category.
Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) completed the podium.
The star of the race was reigning world champion Marc Marquez, who survived a high speed off-road trip while leading on lap five, dropping him to 16th plce.
He blasted back through the field, repeatedly setting the quickest laps until he occupied third place with four laps remaining.
Marquez then crashed at the same spot where he had slid off before, high-siding the Honda at over 150 km/h.
He was taken to hospital with a broken right arm and severe bruising.
Earlier in the day, Brad Binder’s younger brother Darryl was fighting for the Moto3 race lead on his CIP Green Power KTM when he crashed out on the penultimate lap but was not injured.
Round two of the 2020 MotoGP season will take place at the Jerez circuit next weekend, this time called the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia.