• Brad Binder looks back on his GP victory in Austria – one of the toughest victories of his motorcycle career.
• The South African reveals that winning under difficult conditions required precise calculations.
• Binder adds that he looks forward to the prospect of Brother Darryn joining him in MotoGP next year.
• For more auto stories, visit Wheels24
Brad Binder was still struck by his epic win at the 2021 dramatic Austrian Grand Prix and took the time to share that historic win with the local media. The South African is only allowed to won his second race in MotoGPbut this one was pretty special and reaffirmed the limelight on a man who has his sights set on championship gold.
After the Austrian GP, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider decided to stick to dry tires when most of the field, including the riders in front of him, switched to their wet bikes. As the rain increased from second to second, Binder had to go from fifth to first place with three laps to go. His bike was almost impossible to ride on a wet track and the chance of victory diminished as the race progressed.
But Binder achieved the impossible and secured victory in the Red Bull and KTM home races.
A calculated situation
In qualifying for the Austrian GP, Binder did not drive the best laps. In the broader range of its history to date in 2021, it was one of the better Saturday performances, although it was another challenging outing. But it takes a mature person to see where he needs to improve, as the Boytjie himself admits: “It’s unfortunate that I haven’t always done a great fast lap and that’s qualifying.”
While the performances on Saturday may not have been so great lately, Binder always turned his luck on race day. But when it was time for a Grand Prix, Binder would ride his bike to the bone. Regardless of the technical challenges, always striving for maximum results – his Red Bull KTM is fighting with the new tires these days – the (now) two-time MotoGP winner tirelessly tries to push himself and his iron steed to the limit.
This limit is often tested and was also the subject of discussion in the final phase of the race. In sixth with a handful of laps remaining, Binder began calculating 1) how much time he would lose per lap if he stayed outside on a wet track with a bike set up for a dry race, and 2) how much time his rivals would lose – and win (!) – pitting for the wet bikes. He knew that he was going to be pushing the limit and that if he won, it would be a matter of seconds. Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia, who finished second, was one of the riders ahead of Binder who opted for the pits and was significantly faster with his wet bike than those who chose to stay outside.
HEAR: Brad Binder from SA on his MotoGP win in Austria: “I lost my brakes with two laps to go”
While Binder was fighting for grip and speed, Bagnaia did exactly the opposite on the track. Binder’s calculations finally paid off, but not without stress. The South African explains: “There is always the right and the wrong. Right now you have to roll the dice and decide what to do.
“I always feel a lot better when I’ve made a decision myself and I follow it instead of questioning something and doing the opposite. I had no doubt that the best plan was to stay out. Would be the race was a lap longer, that would have been a different story. But everything went well and I’m very happy that I got this victory, definitely! “
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Two binders on the MotoGP starting grid for 2022?
Brad’s brother Darryn has been in Moto3 for the last few seasons, but he has the once-in-a-lifetime chance to skip Moto2 and make his MotoGP debut in 2022. For South Africans who have followed the two brothers’ progress, this is nothing short of ecstatic news and the prospect of the two Binder brothers rampaging in MotoGP is a sensual treat.
About the prospect, Brad says it would be “super exciting to see my brother on the grid with me next year.
Darryn Binder tested Yamaha’s R1 superbike on Tuesday 17th August with a successful outing leading to a possible MotoGP ride in 2022. Darryn will compete for the Yamaha satellite team, SRT Yamaha, along with a rider yet to be named. If successful, the two brothers, who share a home in Europe, will be rivals down the track, but Brad is confident: “(Darryn’s future) is not in my hands and it’s entirely up to Petronas and Yamaha if they do go to take it or not. Right now it’s all talk and I hope it becomes a complete deal. “
Darryn (left) and Brad Binder on a recent vacation in South Africa