Brad Binder's journey is one of the best seen this season in MotoGP. Because to its net results, we must apply the heavy tax of a KTM RC16 which is not the easiest bike on the grid at the moment. And yet, in a category where the whiners assure that it has become impossible to overtake, he generally moves up around ten places in the race from the starting grid to the checkered flag. The top 5 is its glass ceiling marked by its current position of sixth in the provisional general classification. The manufacturer has nothing to reproach its driver, but the reciprocal is not obvious...
After a final exploit at Assen synonymous with fifth place with his KTM, Brad Binder sent a clear message to the Mattighofen engineers from whom he demanded a studious summer vacation: “ KTM engineers now have enough data from the last four races to better prepare for the rest of the season ". And these holiday notebooks will have to be returned at the start of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on August 7.
KTM is currently ranked 4th in the Manufacturers' Championship, Suzuki et Honda are still far behind the Austrian manufacturer. At the World Team Championship, the Red Bull KTM team is ranked 5e.
Brad Binder: “ we are miles from the summit«
To explain his situation, the 3 Moto2016 World Champion takes the last Dutch Grand Prix as a point of support: “ of course, qualifying went better at Assen. But in reality we were still 0,8 seconds behind. It's anything but good. We are miles from the summit. The race pace is improving like in FP4 where Miguel Oliveira and I only lost 0,4 and 0,5 seconds in fifth and ninth respectively. Nevertheless, we still have work to do. We are certainly not at the end of the road yet ».
An assessment that the team manager readily endorses Francesco Guidotti : " this start of the season leaves us with mixed feelings » he said. “ The first races were very good for us, but then we had difficulties on different tracks. In the last races we have done very well again. Our race results are strongly influenced by qualifying results. We need to improve our performance a lot in this area, we need to work hard on this ».
« The pace in the race is good, the commitment of the drivers is excellent », greeted the Red Bull KTM team manager on speedweek. " We focus our strengths on qualifications in order to be much more competitive in the race. We know we can fight for a podium from the front row. This will be the key to the next races ". Waiting for, Brad Binder did not waste his time by joining his native South Africa since he took an example from his future teammate Jack Miller et Luca marini. He in fact further deepened his romantic relationship by passing the engagement ring to his partner Courtney Renniers with this comment: “ Courtney Binder sounds good ».
