Latest news with #Binder
IOL News
5 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Binder battles back in Mugello: from Sprint crash to Sunday redemption
It was a defiant ride that salvaged pride and points on a circuit that demands perfection. But the result did little to lift him up the championship standings. After a bruising crash in the sprint race left his Red Bull KTM buried in the gravel at Turn 1, the South African rebounded with grit and composure, fighting through the field from 15th on the grid to ninth in the Mugello main event. Now 13th overall, Binder's 2024 campaign continues to unfold in a way few could have predicted at the season's start. Early setbacks once again shaped the outcome of the weekend, with a disappointing qualifying position continuing a worrying trend. Binder has struggled to consistently crack the top ten in recent rounds, as crashes and poor grid placements have undermined his ability to challenge at the front. Over the past nine race weekends — factoring in both sprints and full-length races — he has managed just 42 points and remains without a podium this year. Now trailing his KTM teammate Pedro Acosta by 42 points, Binder would have been relieved just to see the chequered flag on Sunday — especially after Saturday's collision with Johann Zarco ended a promising sprint effort prematurely and piled on the pressure ahead of the main race. Sunday's Grand Prix, however, offered a much-needed reset. The 29-year-old regained some composure, managing tyres and temperatures in hot, crowded conditions to bring his machine home safely inside the Top 10. Beyond points, he gathered crucial data — and perhaps more importantly, a measure of momentum. 'I got a decent start but didn't really have the pace to go with the next group in front,' Binder admitted after the race. 'I knew it was important to make the rear tyre last until the end and also guard the front because it was very hot and I was surrounded by riders. I didn't want it to tuck. 'It was a tricky race, and I'm glad to finish. It's by no means what I wanted, but at least it's a starting point. Importantly, I found out what we need to fix for next week, and if we can get a little bit more stability, it will be very beneficial.' The former Moto3 champion will not have to wait long for another chance, with the Dutch TT at Assen coming up this weekend. For Binder, it represents not only another race, but an opportunity to finally reset a season that's struggled to gain traction.
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Brad Binder turns his poor run of form around with solid ninth place
Weekend to forget for Darryn Binder and Ruché Moodley at Italian MotoGP. Brad Binder is happy to get his MotoGP campaign up and running again. Picture: Red Bull KTM Brad Binder hopes his solid ninth place in the Italian MotoGP is just the start of better things to come. The Red Bull KTM rider was under serious pressure going into Sunday's main race. His crash on the first corner of the sprint race on Saturday meant that he went down in five of seven starts, with only three championship points to show. He made a good start from 15th on the starting grid at Mugello on Sunday and quickly found himself in contention for the top 10. He moved up to eighth place late in the race before team-mate Pedro Acosta edged him by less than three hundredths of a second for eighth place. Brad Binder stays positive The seven points Binder earned for ninth place saw him move up one place to 13th in the title race on 42 points. Marc Marquez is running away with the MotoGP championship on 270 points. 'It was a tricky race and I'm glad to finish. It's by no means what I wanted but at least it's a starting point,' Binder told the KTM website after the race. 'Importantly I found out what we need to finish for next week, and if we can get a little bit more stability it will be very beneficial.' ALSO READ: Brad Binder apologises to Red Bull KTM after double French flop KTM boss delighted KTM team boss Aki Ajo was also glad to see a strong finish from Binder. 'For Brad it was a solid day after some crashes recently. It was important to finish and get some confidence back,' Ajo said. Things did not go all that well for the rest of the South African contingent in Italy. Brad Binder's brother Darryn finished outside the Moto2 points in 21st place, while Ruché Moodley crashed out on lap two of the Moto3 race. The next stop on the calendar, the 10th of the 22-race season, is the Grand Prix of the Netherlands next weekend.
The Citizen
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Brad Binder out to set the record straight at Italian MotoGP
Red Bull KTM man has only scored three points in his last six premier class starts. It's a new MotoGP weekend, but the same old problem for Brad Binder as tries to regain his confidence. The Red Bull KTM rider only scored three points in his last six starts and he will be desperate to set the record straight at the at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend. The race takes place at the 15-corner 5.245km Mugello situated in the Tuscany countryside. After finishing the Spanish MotoGP main race in sixth place, his best position of the season, things turned pear-shaped for Binder. He left Le Mans with no points, Silverstone with two points for finishing the main race in 14th and Aragon with a solitary point for a ninth-place finish in the sprint race. ALSO READ: Brad Binder to start 2025 MotoGP season 'a much better rider' Brad Binder miles behind leaders This poor run of form included four DNFs, which leaves the KTM man languishing in a lowly 14th place in the MotoGP title race on 35 points, almost 200 behind leader Marc Marquez. With only eight of the season's 22 races completed, it seems that only Marc's brother Alex Marquez (201) can still catch the six-time premier class champion. Binder made good strides in qualifying during the last round at Aragon, which is usually his Achilles heel. He recorded the sixth fastest time for start on the second row of the grid. After wheelspin cost him dearly at the start of the sprint race, he held his own and flirted with the top five in the main race before crashing out on lap 12 of the main race. ALSO READ: Brad Binder: Sleeping at home and racing at Kyalami will be 'sick' 'It's tricky because every time I gain some confidence with the front end it tends to give up on me!' Binder said after the race. 'I need to take the positives from the weekend and I was able to take what I needed from the bike. Every time I needed a quick lap I was able to be in the mix. If we can hold the performance from this weekend going forwards then things can only get better.' Darryn, Ruché in action Brad Binder's brother Darryn Binder also had a Sunday to forget at Aragon after crashing out of the Moto2 race on the sixth lap. The Gresini Moto2 rider last scored points in the second races of the season, after which he missed three out of the next six races due to injury. Moto3 rider Ruché Moodley will be keen to add to his points tally of 11 at Mugello. The Denssi/BOE rider has scored points in four of his first eight starts.
IOL News
09-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Brad Binder's weekend in Aragon ended in agony
Brad Binder had another forgettable race day on Sunday. Photo: Red Bull Image: Red Bull Brad Binder's crash at the 2025 Aragon Grand Prix was a bitter blow in a season that has rarely offered the South African much respite. Coming into the weekend, Binder had been struggling — not once starting a race from inside the top 10 all year — making his sixth-place grid slot at MotorLand Aragon his most promising launchpad to date. With KTM showing signs of life and both Binder and teammate Pedro Acosta running competitive laps, it seemed the tide might finally turn. However, Binder's struggles on Saturdays continued in the sprint. After a poor launch and early-lap shuffle dropped him from sixth to 13th, he managed to salvage a ninth-place finish — better, but far from what he or the team needed. Sunday, traditionally his strongest day, began with a glimmer of the old Binder. While Marc Marquez broke away at the front and Alex Marquez faltered in second, Binder and Acosta looked poised to capitalise. KTM's pace appeared genuinely competitive, raising hopes of a top-five finish or better. But then, heartbreak on lap 12: Binder lost the front at Turn 3 and crashed out. Reviewing the telemetry later, he found no clear explanation. His reflection was mixed but mature: frustration over yet another lost opportunity, but optimism about the progress made.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
As three riders reach Q2, could KTM finally surprise in Aragon MotoGP race?
Though the KTM MotoGP riders may not be feeling overly confident regarding their race chances this weekend at Aragon, it was surprising to see three of the Austrian manufacturer's riders progress to Q2 for the first time in 2025 following Friday practice. Maverick Viñales led the KTM trio into the automatic Q2 spots in third place on the times, followed by factory riders Pedro Acosta in fifth and Brad Binder in seventh. The final KTM rider, Enea Bastianini, missed out in 13th but was only two-and-a-half tenths off cracking the top 10. Advertisement Sounding particularly upbeat, Binder discussed the slight improvements that appeared to make the difference. 'Firstly happy to be straight through into Q2, it's been a while so that's good but in general I think today was pretty positive,' said Binder. 'I was really struggling this morning with a lot of understeer and this afternoon we found something that gave me a lot more front confidence so that was great. 'A lot less understeer so I'm pretty happy about that and in general everything's quite ok. There are things we can try to fix for tomorrow but I think a good step forward for this track.' Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images Advertisement Maverick Vinales was also in good spirits following his pace but outlined that there is further work to be done, much like Binder did. 'One of the Fridays that we can be more positive, that KTM can be more positive,' said Vinales. 'Even though I think we still have some parts of the track to improve that with the medium [tyre] used was way better to ride the bike so it's probably a little bit unbalanced when you put the soft rear, the behaviour of the front always slightly [caused opening] the line and it's so hard to be precise in section one and two and three. Read Also: KTM 'working as hard as they can' to turn around 'disaster' MotoGP season Maverick Vinales visits KTM HQ calling for 'patience, calm' at the MotoGP team Advertisement 'In section four I think we are quite strong as well as in section two but even though I think still we can improve but one and three where you have to do corner speed, wow! It's tough when I put the time attack. With used medium [tyres] I did in the third exit, I feel we have a good potential.' Things appear to be looking up for the KTM squad at Aragon but its riders are putting off final judgment until qualifying tomorrow. To read more articles visit our website.
