South African MotoGP rider Brad Binder
south african Brad Binder (KTM) won the MotoGP of Austria not to change bikes on the Sunday after the gamble when heavy rain began to fall in the final laps.
Unlike his rivals who pitted to switch bikes, Binder chose to stick to slick tires and cleverly stayed off the field to win his second MotoGP.
The Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) finished second, almost 10 seconds behind, while the Spaniard Jorge Martin (Ducati-Pramac) completed the podium.
The Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) was only able to finish seventh, but that did not prevent him from expanding his lead in the world championship from 40 to 47 points.
He benefited from the fall of his compatriot Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac), who was second at the time.
Zarco slipped to fourth place in the overall standings, two points behind Bagnaia and the Spaniard Joan Mir (Suzuki), who finished fourth, ahead of the Italian Luca Marini (Ducati-Avintia) and the Spaniard Iker Lecuona (KTM-Tech3) that didn’t change bicycles either.
Veteran Valentino Rossi, who is retiring at the end of the season, led his Yamaha SRT in eighth place, while six-time world champion Marc Marquez (Honda) slipped off his bike on the penultimate lap and had to be content with 15th place.
The next round will take place on August 29th at the Silverstone Circuit in Great Britain.
Grand Prix of Austria in Spielberg in Austria on Sunday:
1. Brad Binder (RSA / KTM) 40 min. 46.928 sec., 2nd Francesco Bagnaia (ITA / Ducati) 9,991, 3rd Jorge Martin (ESP / Ducati-Pramac) 11,570, 4th Joan Mir (ESP / Suzuki) 12,623, 5th Luca Marini (ITA / Ducati-Avintia) 14,831, 6th Iker Lecuona (ESP / KTM-Tech3) 14,952, 7th Fabio Quartararo (FRA / Yamaha) 16,650, 8th Valentino Rossi (ITA / Yamaha-SRT) 17,150, 9th Alex Marquez (ESP / Honda-LCR) 17,692, 10 Aleix Espargaro (ESP / Aprilia) 18,270
Selected
15. Marc Marquez (ESP / Honda) 35.459
MotoGP ranking (after 11 races)
1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA / Yamaha) 181 pts., 2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA / Ducati) 134, 3. Joan Mir (ESP / Suzuki) 134, 4. Johann Zarco (FRA / Ducati-Pramac) 132, 5. Jack Miller (AUS / Ducati) 105, 6. Brad-Binder (RSA / KTM) 98, 7. Maverick Vinales (ESP / Yamaha) 95, 8th Miguel Oliveira (POR / KTM) 85, 9th Aleix Espargaro (ESP / Aprilia) 67, 10th Jorge Martin (ESP / Ducati-Pramac) 64
Selected
11. Marc Marquez (ESP / Honda) 59, 19. Valentino Rossi (ITA / Yamaha-SRT) 28
You’ll never forget where you were when @ BradBinder_41 did THAT! ?? Luck advocates the brave !!! ?? # AustriaGP ???? pic.twitter.com/aBGDas1VxY
– MotoGP ™ ?? (@MotoGP) August 15, 2021
Brilliant @ BradBinder_41 crosses the water to win in Austria! ?? Courage is rewarded as the South African holds back @PeccoBagnaia and @ 88jorgemartin after a slick gamble! ?? # AustriaGP ???? pic.twitter.com/N0yaUhN04y
– MotoGP ™ ?? (@MotoGP) August 15, 2021