Brad Binder had barely finished celebrating a resounding Moto3 world title with KTM when he broke his left arm falling from his new Moto2. An accident suffered with the new motorcycle that the Austrian brand will enter this year in this category that he is discovering. A bad memory contracted on the route of Jerez on which he returned for the last off-season tests. A reunion which reassured both the South African pilot and his employer.
Past experiences have shown that going from Moto3 to Moto2 is quite complicated. What's more perhaps with a new motorcycle which cannot benefit from the data accumulated over the braved campaigns. The last World Champion to date namedAlex Marquez does not make sparks. And even if Brad Binder settles within an Ajo structure which has appropriated the last two world crowns, the challenge promises to be significant.
In fact, this premature injury was not without consequences, disrupting both a learning phase and a period of development. For the latter, KTM seems to have found in Miguel Oliveira The man for the job. During the last tests, the Portuguese completed 209 laps with times that are said to be promising. The first pitfall remains. Which doesn't seem so bad.
Because the arm of Binder lasted 156 rounds. In a homeopathic dose of course, but he held out: “ I was pleasantly surprised by these three days of testing. I had a good time on the bike after these long weeks of convalescence. Moto2 is a completely new category for me, so I learn something every time I ride ».
« I'm really excited to see how this season goes, because I think we're moving in the right direction. My arm still hurts a little, which is why we did short series of laps. I'm still in the recovery phase, but for the next tests I will feel better and definitely have more strength. »
A good synergy that delights the boss Aki Ajo : " the most important thing is to have seen Brad Binder return to the bike in Jerez. And we saw what he was capable of even if he is not yet at 100% of his abilities. He did a lot of kilometers and quite a few laps with our Moto2 ". An essential hardening.
The next trials will take place March 8-10, again at Jerez. Tests which, thanks to the transponders, will perhaps reveal a little more the forces present despite official engines which will only arrive at the official tests in Qatar, from March 17.
