Marco Bezzecchi
Brad Binder could have been on the podium at the Catalan Grand Prix had he not made a key error following the second restart.
It looked like Binder’s hopes of a strong result were over when he had to leave the starting grid, which cost him his third-row slot and demoted him to the back of the grid. He later revealed that his clutch had burnt out on the warm-up lap.
But after a chaotic race that featured two red flags and several penalties, the South African was eventually classified seventh, matching his best result of the season so far.
Amidst the red flags, some amazing performances at the Catalan Grand Prix. But which rider stood out the most to you?
Brad Binder ‘completely messed up’ after lightning Catalan GP start
When the race got back underway after Alex Marquez’s crash, Binder made what he called one of his ‘best starts ever’, gaining 12 places in three corners. However, the race was immediately paused again after an incident involving Francesco Bagnaia, Johann Zarco and Luca Marini.
He was back in P19 for the second restart but once again cut through the field, this time climbing to P10, only for a mistake at turn one to cost him ‘a few seconds’.
With Ai Ogura penalised for a last-corner move on the other factory KTM of Pedro Acosta (one that took the Spaniard out of the race) and Joan Mir docked 16 seconds for a tyre-pressure breach, Binder moved up to P7 after crossing the line in P9.
But Francesco Bagnaia, who inherited third place, was less than a second up the road, which highlights how much the aforementioned mistake cost him.
“I completely messed up turn one,” he reflected to Speedweek. “I came to a stop on the outside, swerved inwards, and lost a few seconds.”
“It’s a shame that I qualified eighth and had to start from 20th place. Anyway, it is what it is. I think it was a weekend with positive aspects, but also one that’s best forgotten.”
Still, Binder feels he made a breakthrough in Barcelona after displaying his best one-lap pace of the year: “My speed has improved a lot. I feel like we’re finally making progress.”
Neil Hodgson says qualifying has been Binder’s weakness for an ‘eternity’, so Saturdays clearly hold the key to turning his form around.
Binder is fighting for his future in the sport after KTM signed Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio to form a brand-new factory line-up. They have at least extended their deal with Tech3, which opens up a possible safety net.
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