It has only been done once before, by Jack Miller in 2015, but Darryn Binder didn’t hesitate when given the chance to jump straight from Moto3 to MotoGP # with the RNF Yamaha team.
“I was so excited I definitely didn’t ask why me! I just said, ‘Thank you! I’m ready! Take me!’ Binder said.
“It’s a dream come true for me. Everyone wants to ride in MotoGP one day, so you can’t turn down an opportunity like this.
“This is the greatest opportunity I’ve ever had in my life, so I grabbed it with both hands.”
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The 24-year-old South African spent seven long seasons in the junior class, claiming one win and six podiums.
He got the MotoGP opportunity after impressing Razlan Razali by battling through the field on an underpowered Honda at Petronas SRT last season. But the move was not without controversy, with many questioning whether Binder should skip the Moto2 class.
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“Of course there were mixed feelings and a lot of different comments and stuff, but I would be stupid not to accept my lifelong dream. It’s what I’ve worked towards all my life, and when someone gives you this opportunity, take it and make the most of it,” Binder said.
“So I’m super happy to move up to MotoGP. Obviously there are some people who say otherwise or whatever. I really don’t care. I don’t have a mental coach. I definitely don’t need one! I’m a perfectly happy person and don’t do bullshit.
“So I carry on as normal. I’m approaching this season like I would approach any other season. At the end of the day it’s still a bike, it has two wheels and I’m going to ride it.”
Debate over Binder’s MotoGP ride intensified when he collided with Moto3 title contender Dennis Foggia at Portimao, ending the Italian’s championship chances on the penultimate lap.
“I want to put all the bad things behind me and move forward on a clean slate, but of course that’s difficult. I tried that last year but unfortunately I made a mistake at the end of the year and everyone just jumped back on the same train,” said Binder.
“I’m just going to go in, do my best and try to keep my nose clean and avoid trouble. I hope that I can have good races and good fights with all the guys and whether they like me or not doesn’t change anything for me!
“At the end of the day, everyone is out there for themselves. I will speak to anyone who wants to speak to me, I’m not a picky person, I look forward to a conversation.”
After Portimao, Miller was one of those who championed Binder, saying everyone made mistakes like this.
However, some other MotoGP riders indicated that they would support the introduction of a super license to effectively prevent them from going directly to MotoGP without competing in Moto2.
“I feel like things got a little bit more out of proportion last year than it was because you read things and I felt like they were worded a little bit differently than what people originally said.
“Because there were a lot of people I spoke to that didn’t come across the way it came across in the media. I know everyone has different opinions and stuff so it really doesn’t bother me and I’m just going to go out and do my job at the end of today.”
Binder had no plans to miss Moto2, but when SRT was suddenly forced to close due to the loss of Petronas, he faced an uncertain future until Razali (green-lighted by Yamaha) offered the South African a spot in his new RNF MotoGP Team.
“The initial plan was to get into Moto3 with Petronas and try to go all the way. That was the main goal. Do well in Moto3, go to Moto2 and if I was good, go to MotoGP,” he said Binder.
“Last year, unfortunately, everything changed. I think working with everyone [at SRT] Last year they really believed in me and that’s why they gave me this chance. I have to take it with both hands, make the best of it and hopefully prove they were right in choosing me.
“It’s definitely a big risk to jump straight into MotoGP. It’s not always about how fast you can get into MotoGP, but how long you can stay there. It’s the pinnacle of the sport, you want to go there and stay there for as long as it takes. It’s a big risk but at the same time I could never turn down that offer.
“It has been my dream all my life to ride a MotoGP bike. It is the dreams of many people and many people who can never live this dream. So I’ll go there and give it my all. “
Binder’s RNF crew chief will be Noe Herrera, who helped Raul Fernandez to his second Moto2 title with Red Bull KTM Ajo last season.
Fernandez’s career path is also a source of inspiration for Binder alongside that of three-time MotoGP race winner Jack Miller, nine-time winner Maverick Vinales and 2020 World Champion Joan Mir.
“Jack jumped straight into MotoGP and made it work. Yes, it took quite a long time but there were very different circumstances for him. There were also riders who went through Moto2 in a year and in the MotoGP jumped and were good,” said Binder.
“It also gives me confidence when I look at Raul Fernandez, yes he was very strong at the end of Moto3 but up until then he hadn’t done anything crazy. But then he jumped into Moto2 and did amazing things.”
“I’ve always felt that a bigger bike suits me better and that in Moto3 I struggled a bit with my weight and height, so I think I’m better suited to a bigger bike, it should be more comfortable.
“I have literally everything I could want in a bike, I have all the tools, I just need to learn how to use them properly. I believe that I can do it and that I will be able to go quickly.”
Darryn, the younger brother of KTM MotoGP race winner Brad Binder, was bottom of the timesheets in his MotoGP debut at the Jerez Test last November, but a respectable 3 seconds from the lead and 1.5 seconds from top rookie Fabio di Giannantonio (Gresini Ducati) removed.
His next assignment will be the Sepang shakedown test on January 31-February 2, followed by the official test on February 5-6.