How Brad Binder ‘destroyed’ his rivals ‘psychologically’ during his first victory in Moto3 at Jerez

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Brad Binder has been at the centre of some of the most dramatic race wins in the history of Grand Prix motorcycle racing. His MotoGP feat in Austria in the 2021 season instantly comes to mind, but his maiden victory in Moto3 is just as impressive.

Recent races for the South African rider hasn’t been as lucrative. He has struggled with KTM in recent years and hasn’t won a race since that weather-defying feat in Austria four seasons ago.

He has picked up a podium here and there, but struggles within the KTM stable have translated into the results on track, leading one journalist to believe that Binder is no longer KTM’s ‘golden boy’.

Despite the struggles encountered this season, Binder would surge into the top six of the riders’ standings if the Ducati bikes were taken out of the equation.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Brad Binder from career stats to wife

Brad Binder’s comeback from last on the grid to first at Jerez in 2016 was like ‘poetry in motion’

Up against future MotoGP champions in Joan Mir, Fabio Quartararo and Jorge Martin, Binder started in dead last for the fourth round of the season in Jerez due to a grid penalty after being found to be using a non-homologated ECU software after qualifying

What ensued in Sunday’s Grand Prix is best described by commentator Matthew Birt, who called Binder’s performance in Spain, ‘poetry in motion’.

The South African rider carved his way through the field on the KTM bike, picking off rival after rival as he set his sights on pole-sitter Nicolo Bulega.

“When Brad Binder is in full flow and he’s so aggressive, so attacking and riding hard, it’s spectacular to watch,” Birt described when recalling his performance that day.

Binder went on to take the lead in the closing laps of the race, pulling out a three-second lead on Nicolo Bulega in the process. It was the KTM rider’s maiden win in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, and first of seven wins throughout the 2016 season that carried him to the Moto3 title.

Co-commentator Steve Day also recalled the feat of Binder’s, noting the impact it must have had on his competitors by saying, “To have your first ever Moto3 race win coming from the back of the grid was just class, and after that I think, psychologically, it destroyed every other Moto3 rider on the grid.”

READ MORE: Everything to know about KTM from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy

Brad Binder showed glimpses of his ‘classic’ form at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix

Binder recorded his best points haul of the 2025 season in Spielberg just a couple of rounds ago, finishing fifth in the Sprint and seventh in the Grand Prix during KTM’s home weekend.

The 30-year-old earned plenty of plaudits for his performance at the Red Bull Ring. MotoGP journalist Mat Oxley called Binder ‘spectacular’ for the way he eked out the maximum performance of his rear tyre.

Neil Hodgson was delighted to see the ‘classic’ Binder return after a difficult year and a half at the KTM stable. The South African rider hasn’t appeared on the podium since the 2024 season opener in Qatar.

The performance in Austria came after Binder was put under increasing pressure from his team to start recording some good points hauls, akin to his high-flying KTM teammate, Pedro Acosta.

He still has a lot to do until the end of the season. Binder is in danger of recording his worst-ever season in MotoGP, having recorded just 91 points from the first 14 rounds of the year.