It has been almost 35 years since South Africa last celebrated a title in Grand Prix racing. Could Brad Binder become the driver to end this sterile spell? He thinks he could be as he joins Red Bull KTM Ajo for the 2015 Moto3 ™ campaign.
In the next year there will be not just one but two binders in the field. Brad – two podiums in 2014 – wants to make a big impression with Aki Ajo’s proven squad. In the meantime, the younger brother Darryn from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup is entering the world championship and is taking off his brother’s earlier drive at WWR.
Brad Binder saved motogp.com ten minutes this week sharing his optimism.
Brad, do the Binder brothers want to follow in the footsteps of the Marquez and Espargaro families?
[Laughs] If we could it would be amazing … they set the bar pretty high! At the end of the day, we’ve always enjoyed racing since we were little. It’s now been three or four years since we last raced together in GP 125 in South Africa. It feels like a century ago!
Having been there and doing it myself, I know it won’t be easy for Darryn. Your first year at Grands Prix is always so difficult and the way Moto3 is right now it will be even more difficult. I hope my brother is really well and I am helping as best I can. We see each other a lot now too. During the season I live in Spain – I have a house near Benidorm, about halfway between Valencia and Alicante – and he would always stay with me between his Rookies Cup races.
You did some amazing feats on a Mahindra customer bike in 2014. There was a second place in Germany and another podium in Japan. But what do you think held you back in the other races?
Engine problems and so many retirements; I had to pit lane six times in races this season, which wasn’t much fun! But Mahindra worked so hard and the bike was excellent. I was pretty happy with two podiums. In Germany I really gave it my all and was right behind Jack Miller for the win. On the one hand, it was supposed to be my first podium so I didn’t want to do anything stupid, but of course I wanted to win. However, that day Jack ultimately had the pace and he deserved the win.
What are your first impressions after two tests with Red Bull KTM Ajo?
You are so professional. It is really incredible. I really enjoyed the first two tests. They were relaxed but professional at the same time. And the bike … jeez! The power at the bottom is so, so good! The engine power is just so smooth, it’s easy to ride and the bike is a dream at the entrance to a corner. It never gets sideways.
On the Mahindra, I drove sideways rather than straight! It’s so much easier to set a good lap time with the KTM. You don’t have to go crazy or be at the limit. When comparing the KTM bikes from 2014 and 2015, I can’t really say the improvements because I only did one test at a time.
Now that Jack Miller has almost won the title with an Ajo Motorsport KTM, is there any additional pressure on your shoulders?
To be honest, there is no extra pressure at all. For me, no matter which bike I ride, I just want to win and try to do my best. I always knew that I could definitely be up there and it is so frustrating when you are not able to do that. To be honest, this podium in Germany was the best I could do. It happened just before the mid-season so everyone talked about it for a long time and that helped a lot in finding a good ride for 2015. Yes, I had spoken to other teams before, but finishing second there really solidified it.
For 2015 you have two teammates: Karel Hanika and Miguel Oliveira. Do you think Aki Ajo and the team will give every driver an equal chance?
I have no doubt that all three riders will be riding exactly the same equipment all year round. Don’t worry at all.
Who do you think will be the biggest rivals?
That is a very difficult question. Who would you say [laughs]?! It’s so hard to come up with an answer considering that some races in 2014 had 15 drivers battling it out for victory. I think you have to look at guys like Danny Kent on a Honda and I think Antonelli will be good provided he falls less. In all honesty, I don’t care who the next challenger is – I’m just trying to win the race anyway!
South Africa’s last world champion was Jon Ekerold in the 350cc class in 1980. Can you be the driver to finish the 35 year old draft for South Africa?
I would love to! I really would. I will give 110% and try everything I can. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to show people what I can do: my first real chance to consistently fight for top results. It’s been too long for South Africa because so many people are passionate about racing here. I would love it if our country has a Grand Prix again. We definitely have the tracks; Both Welkom and Kyalami would make fantastic Grand Prix circuits and both have hosted many events over the past few years. For me personally too, a home race would be much better.
How do you keep yourself busy in the off-season?
At the moment I’m back home in Johannesburg. I will be in Durban with my family over Christmas and New Years and return to Europe in February. Here in South Africa I enjoy the sun (it’s currently 28 degrees!) And train.
When I’m at home, I’m out and about doing things. But I like to watch every race. It’s not uncommon for me to watch four or five times every Grand Prix! I just sit in front of the computer and check it out on motogp.com! It’s very interesting to know what happened throughout the race and you can always learn something by seeing what different people are doing. Also, before every race, I always watch last year’s Grand Prix to see what happened.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone once again for their support this year. I’m really looking forward to 2015, but as always, it’s a long season!
THE FACTS – SOUTH AFRICA’S GRAND PRIX RACING STORY
– South Africa has produced two world champions: Kork Ballington (4 titles in a row, in the 350cc and 250cc classes from 1978 and 1978) and Jon Ekerold (350cc in 1980)
– Aside from Ballington and Ekerold, Alan North is the only other South African rider to have won a Grand Prix, which in 1977 won the 350cc Nations Grand Prix at Imola
Perhaps the earliest successful South African driver was Paddy Driver, who competed in Grands Prix from 1958 to 1965 and achieved nine podiums. He also competed in two Formula 1 car races with Lotus. Driver remains the only South African driver besides Brad Binder to land on the podium in the lightweight class of Grand Prix racing (third at the 125cc Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps in 1962 on an EMC)
– South Africa has celebrated a total of 39 Grand Prix victories: 31 for Ballington (17 x 250 cc, 14 x 350 cc), 7 for Ekerold (1 x 250 cc, 6 x 350 cc) and 1 for North (1 x 350 cc )
– The country first hosted a Grand Prix event in Kyalami in 1983, which Freddie Spencer won to start an initial title winning campaign for him and HRC
– South Africa last hosted a Grand Prix when Welkom’s Phakisa Raceway hosted the inaugural race of the 2004 season, historically won by Valentino Rossi on his Yamaha debut; Dani Pedrosa won his first race in the 250cc class this weekend, while Andrea Dovizioso took the checkered flag in the 125cc race: his first ever GP win