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Brad Binder title

Two points in two Grands Prix. By making a mistake at Misano, Brad Binder surely ended his title hopes. The South African is now 110 points behind Pecco Bagnaia overall, and even 74 behind Jorge Martín. It's surprising, given the great start to the season from the two KTMs, but recent poor performances show that there is still a long way to go to catch up with Ducati. Detailed analysis.

 

One mistake follows another

 

In Barcelona, ​​just after hitting Pecco Bagnaia, Brad Binder had to get back into the right tempo to try to save the furniture. Although he was considerably behind, a mechanical problem put an end to his hopes. From then on, with a diminished Pecco, everyone had to try to regain as many points as possible from him in Misano, but the weekend did not go as planned.

To be honest, we were rather disappointed with his performance, from start to finish. On Friday evening, after half-hearted tests, he took the opposite view by specifying that it was just a bad day, nothing more, and that the situation would undoubtedly improve afterwards. Obviously, the presence of Dani Pedrosa was very noticed, and it is normal that we draw parallels. So, yes, we are not going to denigrate the Spaniard's performance but we must still remember that he benefited from the latest improvements, arrived physically fresh, without any pressure, on a track that he knows like the back of his hand on the handlebars. of this machine, exactly like Jerez. That said, no test driver does better than the three-time world champion, that's obvious.

But even if Pedrosa benefited from a favorable context, never a 37-year-old man, as great as he was in the past, should qualify ahead of a factory rider of the caliber of Brad Binder in his Prime , his best period in his career. We were talking about it shortly after the start of the season; speed on a lap is a fault that cost him, costs him, and will cost him again, perhaps his entire career if he does not find solutions. We affirm it today; it is impossible to compete for the world title if we cannot string together the front rows in qualifying, without even mentioning pole positions.

 

Brad Binder title

Behind Dani Pedrosa, things are bad for her. Photo: Michelin Motorsport

 

Then came the two races. First, during the Sprint, almost everywhere. Some think his commitment is absolutely magnificent. This is not our case. We find Brad Binder particularly messy, confused in his passing choices, unsure of himself. Moreover, these maneuvers are more than limited – notably the one on Maverick Viñales in Sunset, turn n°10 – are not effective. He finished fifth behind Pedrosa, which is not so bad in itself, but light years behind the Ducati in front. Then, during the race, Brad Binder made one mistake too many, the one that condemned him. Despite everything, he managed to restart and took 14th place. In a round where it was necessary to regain points to stay in the race, the KTM official lost some.

 

KTM is the new Aprilia

 

We don't blame everything on Brad Binder. For some time now, we have noticed that the dynamics are no longer the best at KTM, and this makes us think of Aprilia in 2022. The Noale firm had started strong, in the footsteps of Ducati – even ahead in terms of pace as in Argentina or Jerez, but had a hard time assuming this challenger status. Performance stagnated, results too, and errors began to pile up.

 

 

Brad Binder looks like he's fighting the RC16. Some will tell us: “it’s his driving style that dictates it”. But this argument is refutable. First of all, this is the first year that he has been so offensive. In 2022, he had a magnificent season, marked by consistency in exemplary performance. It is only since the start of 2023 that we have seen excessive attacks, overtaking “PlayStation” to use Luca Marini's term regarding him. This means that he has evolved his style in a short period of time. But isn't it the bike that dictates it? Dani Pedrosa showed that the KTM could be ridden differently: even Brad Binder admitted it, impressed by the Spaniard's calm on the machine.

 

Brad Binder title

KTM no longer has the freshness of the start of the season. Photo: Michelin Motorsport

 

Despite everything, Binder remains an “elite” rider, and it is clear that KTM is no longer at the same level. Or rather, they stayed in the same place while Ducati, throughout the season, only progressed. The example of Jack Miller also confirms this trend. Even if he never resolved his consistency problems which were already evident on the Desmosedici, he was still more often at the front a few months ago. Since his third place in the Sprint at the German Grand Prix, he has never been in the top 6 again!

This is all the more troubling since Aprilia had started to suffer the “weight of status” at the same time last year; we know how crucial the summer recovery is for improvements during the season. However, we believe there is still hope among the Austrians.

 

Will the rain save Brad Binder?

 

This season is absolutely unique in history. First, because it is long and exhausting. But also, because it is more international than ever. The Asian tour consists of seven consecutive Grands Prix, and with them, a high probability of tricky conditions, which Brad Binder particularly appreciates. For now, in two GP run with rain, he recorded two very great performances (Sprint in Argentina and Grand Prix of Great Britain). It is difficult to imagine water Qatar, we agree, but India (or rather, the Bharat), The Thailand and especially, Indonesia are conducive to tropical rains.

Let us get along; we don't imagine that this could be enough to make Brad Binder take the title, especially since Marco Bezzecchi, far from being a race in the wet, is ahead of him in the general. But this can allow him, perhaps, to take this landmark victory so important in our time; this stroke of brilliance which reminds everyone that he can discuss with the best. Casually, it becomes difficult to demonstrate the opposite in view of recent results. Even his second place in Austria does not support this statement: it had not seen the light of day against Bagnaia.

But beyond the result, this could restore confidence to the entire team, and relaunch a good dynamic for the winter and the start of the 2024 season. We saw, with the Aprilia debacle at the end of 2022, how bad momentum could continue into the following year.

What do you think ? Do you see Brad Binder taking advantage of these exotic Grands Prix to get closer to the overall? Tell us in the comments!

 

Despite a fall, he still finished ahead of Franco Morbidelli. Photo: Michelin Motorsport

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport

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