Race worth waiting for

BRAD Binder will have to wait until next month to get his career in MotoGP on track.

This was confirmed this past week when the season’s opening elite category race was cancelled at the Qatar GP, followed days later by the suspension of the Thailand GP due to fears over Covid-19.

Binder will now have to wait until the GP of the Americas on April 4 to climb onto his Red Bull KTM and take on six-time world champion Marc Marques, living legend Valentino Rossi, future star Fabio Quartararo, and old foe Marques’s brother, Alex.

Though he is not expected to challenge this season for anything tangible, let alone the world championship, the Potchefstroom-born Binder has already shown glimpses of what’s to come in the premier class of world championship motorcycling. Recently, while testing his new ride, Binder left his team dumbfounded by finishing in the top 10, only 0.425 seconds slower than pace-setter Maverick Vinales on the final day.

That lap even took him aback, with him remarking: “I didn’t really expect it. I came across the line and was like, ‘jeez’.”

But those who have followed his career closely, will be less surprised. It’s Binder’s most treasured proficiency to eke out that little bit more from his machinery, coupled with his talent, that has made him Moto3 world champ, an exciting title prospect and a South African sporting ambassador in the making.

All the more reason to rue the delayed start to his MotoGP career. South African fans are eager to watch the next step in his evolution.

All we can say for now is Bring on April. It cannot come quickly enough.