KTM have to rely on Binder heroics
Fast but frustrating fourth in Aragon could be positive turning point for KTM
Aragon was Brad Binder’s best result since his stellar second place at the season opener in Qatar which had suggested a competitive upswing for the Austrian factory.
But since Miguel Oliveira’s wet race win in Mandalika in the middle of March, it has been an unrewarding season for KTM’s MotoGP effort.
For 21 of 23 laps Binder was in the top three at Motorland before losing out by just 0.2s to Aleix Espargaro’s Aprilia for the final podium spot.
It was another dose of the South African’s famed Sunday heroics after the battering of an FP3 crash upset race preparations.
“I struggled with my swollen right ankle but in the race I pushed the pain away and went on the move,” Binder said afterwards.
“I had an amazing start and was already in second place after the first lap. And after that I rode the
whole race in third place. I am very disappointed because I lost the podium position with two laps to go. I tried hard to fight back, but it didn’t work out.”
The next step for KTM is to extract more consistent qualifying pace and grip from the RC-16. Binder started 10th and capitalised on lap one mayhem to deliver an almost mistake-free race.
Binder added: “We still have some work to do. We have to take the last step so that we can fight for podiums consistently again soon.
“I’ve always done well here in the small classes and I secured my Moto3 World Championship title in Aragon in 2016. But in MotoGP I’ve never put together a flawless race so far, seventh last year was my best result here until today.”
Oliveira struggled with a big drop in tyre performance to finish 11th.