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In an article preceding the Valencian Community Grand Prix, we established different predictions, or at least distinct elements to follow. We were right to Jack Miller, Marc Márquez, Alex Rins (without knowing that he was going to win) and the disastrous situation of Aprilia. On the other hand, one pilot in particular proved us wrong. Analysis in several points.

I) Sorry, Brad.

Sorry, we underestimated you. Indeed, we hadn't paid enough attention to your quite exceptional season, which went under the radar. This is undoubtedly one of the best performances of the year, all categories combined. We had ruled that on Sunday you would not have the speed necessary to catch the Ducatis on a track historically favorable to them. But you proved us wrong.

His correct seventh place in qualifying did not suggest such form during the race. But after a few loops, Brad gets up to speed, noticeably faster than everyone else and notably Johann zarco, which we will talk about a little later. It's about a third of the way through the race that the magic happens. Binder strings together the best rounds and attacks like never before.

Despite Rins winning, we saw the best Brad Binder of all time on Ricardo Tormo. Indeed, his two Grand Prix victories had been gleaned differently, with less panache. Of course, his exploit in the rain in Spielberg will be remembered but it was more of a survival game. There, Brad had to attack, move forward and overtake on a particularly technical circuit. The Valencia turnstile is unforgiving. This 2022 edition is no exception to the rule, since many top drivers made mistakes.

 

Binder, always with a smile on his face, could well be the surprise of 2023. Photo: Michelin Motorsport

 

II) Brad Binder is titratable.

The KTM is not the worst bike on the grid, that's obvious. On the other hand, it is the most unpredictable, because the Austrian firm very often makes improvements which considerably modify performance from one weekend to the next, for better or for worse. It must be said that in Valencia, they worked correctly. Miguel Oliveira, for his last in the team, also had a decent race finishing fifth. Moreover, Raúl Fernández (for once we talk about him) won 11 positions, taking advantage, it is true, of the numerous falls.

But think about it for a moment. On such an inconsistent bike, Binder manages to score 9,4 points per race, and manages, over a year, to achieve two to three exploits. What is stopping him from playing for the title if not his bike? In Valencia, he showed that he has (almost) all the qualities of a MotoGP world champion.

We were not aware of such a velocity. Moreover, last Sunday he recorded his only best race lap of the year (three in MotoGP). On the other hand, we knew that he was one of the most consistent in performance, comfortable in both dry and wet, on any type of track, an underestimated quality, and who can lead a distance racing like getting by in the pack.

It does have two flaws, quite significant but which largely have to do with the machine and the confidence it gives. First of all, aggression. Binder, in his body language or on the floor, is not very nervous, and that could work against him. Qualifying is also seriously weighing him down, and this will become one of the big challenges of 2023 with the sprint races. As a reminder, his last pole dates back to the 2018 Aragon Grand Prix, when he was competing in Moto2. But overall, the KTMs, like the late Suzukis, experience difficulty with speed over a lap. Generally speaking, he never excelled in this area.

 

Photo: Michelin Motorsport

 

For all these reasons, we must not forget Brad Binder and closely monitor the development of the RC16 vintage 2023.

III) Easy sixth

The prediction concerning Binder also led, according to our pre-race statements, to the promotion of Johann zarco in sixth position in the championship. Unfortunately for the Frenchman, the worst scenario happened as he fell, while Rins triumphed; he thus slips to eighth place. Terrible.

We could not imagine that Binder, on a regular basis, finishes ahead zarco who benefited from a good machine (the Desmosedici GP22 are good everywhere, Valencia is a track that suits them perfectly and Martín made third). And yet, history has thumbed its nose at us.

For once, Johann zarco took off well and did not find himself stuck in the peloton as during these last Grands Prix. But later, a lack of speed as blatant as it was inexplicable struck him down. He confided, after the race, that he had no feeling in his front end and that this situation only got worse as the laps went by, which was not difficult to see.

However, the same morning, he led the warm-up and claimed to have excellent sensations with his machine. A situation which, if not dramatic, says a lot about the lack of confidence and the relationship with one's horse, a fact which has often come up in recent races. Brad Binder didn't have to worry about Johann, who ended the season in the worst way and has never been able to worry the best since Thailand.

What did you think of this feat from the South African? Tell us in the comments.

 

Three podiums for the South African this year. Photo: Michelin Motorsport

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport

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