The good news: KTM star Brad Binder has overcome his crash. But “BB33” is still unable to compete for victory. Eighth place in the MotoGP sprint in Saxony was a hard-fought affair.
At the Sachsenring, KTM factory rider Brad Binder managed to get his extremely unsatisfactory record back into shape. While the South African’s crash statistics shot up until Mugello, he also remained unscathed at the Sachsenring, which is quite remarkable considering the double-digit number of crashes on the first day of training alone.
«BB33» was by no means defensive. Even if it was close, Binder managed to make it straight into Qualifying 2. Starting from eleventh place, the RC16 racer got off to a good start, as he has done so often before. 15 laps later, the most experienced pilot in the project crossed the finish line in eighth place – and was thus the best KTM driver, as he was recently in Assen. The experienced rider lost nine seconds to sprint king Jorge Martin.
A balanced but not very enthusiastic factory rider arrived at the press center. First, Brad Binder spoke regarding the groundwork before the sprint race: “We made a fairly radical change to the motorcycle this morning because we had an idea to get the bike’s significant understeering from Friday under control. But we didn’t try that in qualifying, as it was all regarding the best starting position and the one hot lap. I didn’t get the lap perfect because 11th place is not what we had planned.”
The seventh-place finisher in the World Championships wanted, as he has done so often, to quickly make up a lot of ground with a Binder rocket start. But the plan only partially worked. “I was confident of another top start – but it wasn’t outstanding. I mightn’t make up more than two places.”
Binder summed up the rest of the race, which was only half the distance of a Grand Prix, as succinctly as possible: “I kept my head down and pushed until the finish line.”
In the second lap, Binder pushed past Alex Márquez, but then his pursuit was over. The KTM worker might not keep up with the pace of the riders ahead of him: Marc Márquez, Maverick Vinales and Franky Morbidelli.
According to Binder, the experiment from the free practice did not provide a decisive solution. “In the sprint, the understeer was only minimally better. The bike still leans far and makes large curves. This is a big issue, especially at the Sachsenring, because there are passages where you have long rolling phases at a large lean angle. In the end, it was simply frustrating when you go through the whole race with full attack – and at the line you are in eighth place.”
The depressed mood is understandable and is also reflected in the constructors’ world championship. In the close battle for second place with the Aprilia racing department, who looked very good at the Sachsenring following qualifying and the sprint, the Austrians have lost further meters up to this point.
Results MotoGP Sachsenring, sprint race (6 July):
1. Jorge Martin (L), Ducati, 15 runs in 20:18,904 min
2. Miguel Oliveira (P), Aprilia, +0,676 sec
3. Francesco Bagnaia (I), Ducati, +1,311
4. Enea Bastianini (I), Ducats, +1,458
5. Franco Morbidelli (I), Ducati, +5,600
6. Marc Marquez (E), Ducati, +6,281
7. Maverick Viñales (E), Aprilia, +6,284
8. Brad Binder (ZA), KTM, +9,061
9. Alex Márquez (E), Ducati, +9,201
10. Marco Bezzecchi (I), Ducati, +10,800
11. Jack Miller (AUS), KTM, +13.815
12. Fabio Di Giannantonio (I), Ducati, +13,960
13. Fabio Quartararo (F), Yamaha, +14,432
14. Raul Fernandez (E), Aprilia, +15,329
15. Luca Marini (I), Honda, +15,430
16. Augusto Fernandez (E), KTM, +15,493
17. Johann Zarco (F), Honda, +16,205
18. Takaaki Nakagami (J), Honda, +20.321
19. Stefan Bradl (D), Honda, +23,733
20. Remy Gardner (AUS), Yamaha, +26,366
21. Joan Mir (E), Honda, +26,668
22. Pedro Acosta (L), KTM, +26.715
World Championship standings following 17 of 42 races:
1. Martin, 212 points. 2. Bagnaia 197. 3. Marc Marquez 146. 4. Bastianini 142. 5. Vinales 121. 6. Acosta 101. 7. Binder 101. 8. Di Giannantonio 92. 9. Aleix Espargaro 82. 10. Alex Marquez 63. 11. Bezzecchi 45. 12. Morbidelli 44. 13. Oliveira 41. 14. Raul Fernandez 40. 15. Quartararo 39. 16. Miller 32. 17. Augusto Fernandez 15. 18. Mir 13. 19. Zarco 12. 20. Rins 8. 21. Nakagami 8. 22. Pedrosa 7.
Constructors’ World Championship:
1. Ducati, 290 points. 2. Aprilia 165. 3. KTM 156. 4. Yamaha 43. 5. Honda 22.
Team World Championship:
1. Ducati Lenovo Team, 339 points. 2. Prima Pramac Racing 256. 3. Gresini Racing MotoGP 209. 4. Aprilia Racing 203. 5. Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team 137. 6. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 133. 7. Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 116. 8. Trackhouse Racing 81. 9. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 47. 10. LCR Honda 20. 11. Repsol Honda 13.
KTM’s Brad Binder Overcomes Crash, But Still Struggles for Victory in Sachsenring Sprint
Brad Binder, the KTM factory rider, managed to overcome his recent string of crashes at the Sachsenring, showcasing a significant improvement in his performance. Despite his previous struggles, Binder maintained a strong composure, even amidst the chaotic first day of training that saw a double-digit number of crashes.
A Challenging Race for Binder
“BB33” was not hesitant to push for a qualifying position and secured a spot in Qualifying 2. Starting from eleventh place, Binder’s signature strong start propelled him forward. However, the RC16 racer ultimately finished in eighth place, a respectable position but not a victory. Over the 15-lap sprint, he trailed the winner, Jorge Martin, by nine seconds.
After the race, Binder discussed the strategy behind his performance: “We made a fairly radical change to the motorcycle this morning to try and tackle the bike’s substantial understeering we had on Friday. We didn’t implement this change in qualifying as it was all regarding the best starting position and getting that one hot lap. Ultimately, I didn’t get the lap perfect, as eleventh place is not the result we hoped for.”
The Impact of Understeering
Despite a strong start, Binder found himself unable to maximize his performance throughout the sprint race. “I was confident of another top start, but it wasn’t outstanding. I mightn’t make up more than two positions,” he explained. “After that, I kept my head down and pushed until the finish line.”
The understeering issue proved problematic throughout the race. “The understeer was only minimally better in the sprint. The bike still leans far and takes a wide turn. This is a big issue, especially at the Sachsenring, because there are sections with lengthy rolling phases at a large lean angle. In the end, it was frustrating, putting in a full-attack race and ending up in eighth place.”
KTM’s Struggles in the Constructors’ Championship
Binder’s setback at the Sachsenring reflects the broader struggles KTM is facing in the Constructors’ World Championship. Their close fight for second place with Aprilia has been hampered, putting them at a disadvantage in the race for the podium.
Sachsenring Sprint Race Results
| Position | Rider | Motorcycle | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jorge Martin (L) | Ducati | 20:18,904 min |
| 2 | Miguel Oliveira (P) | Aprilia | +0,676 sec |
| 3 | Francesco Bagnaia (I) | Ducati | +1,311 |
| 4 | Enea Bastianini (I) | Ducats | +1,458 |
| 5 | Franco Morbidelli (I) | Ducati | +5,600 |
| 6 | Marc Marquez (E) | Ducati | +6,281 |
| 7 | Maverick Viñales (E) | Aprilia | +6,284 |
| 8 | Brad Binder (ZA) | KTM | +9,061 |
| 9 | Alex Márquez (E) | Ducati | +9,201 |
| 10 | Marco Bezzecchi (I) | Ducati | +10,800 |
| 11 | Jack Miller (AUS) | KTM | +13.815 |
| 12 | Fabio Di Giannantonio (I) | Ducati | +13,960 |
| 13 | Fabio Quartararo (F) | Yamaha | +14,432 |
| 14 | Raul Fernandez (E) | Aprilia | +15,329 |
| 15 | Luca Marini (I) | Honda | +15,430 |
| 16 | Augusto Fernandez (E) | KTM | +15,493 |
| 17 | Johann Zarco (F) | Honda | +16,205 |
| 18 | Takaaki Nakagami (J) | Honda | +20.321 |
| 19 | Stefan Bradl (D) | Honda | +23,733 |
| 20 | Remy Gardner (AUS) | Yamaha | +26,366 |
| 21 | Joan Mir (E) | Honda | +26,668 |
| 22 | Pedro Acosta (L) | KTM | +26.715 |
World Championship Standings After 17 of 42 Races
| Position | Rider | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin | 212 |
| 2 | Bagnaia | 197 |
| 3 | Marc Marquez | 146 |
| 4 | Bastianini | 142 |
| 5 | Vinales | 121 |
| 6 | Acosta | 101 |
| 7 | Binder | 101 |
| 8 | Di Giannantonio | 92 |
| 9 | Aleix Espargaro | 82 |
| 10 | Alex Marquez | 63 |
| 11 | Bezzecchi | 45 |
| 12 | Morbidelli | 44 |
| 13 | Oliveira | 41 |
| 14 | Raul Fernandez | 40 |
| 15 | Quartararo | 39 |
| 16 | Miller | 32 |
| 17 | Augusto Fernandez | 15 |
| 18 | Mir | 13 |
| 19 | Zarco | 12 |
| 20 | Rins | 8 |
| 21 | Nakagami | 8 |
| 22 | Pedrosa | 7 |
Constructors’ World Championship
- 1. Ducati, 290 points
- 2. Aprilia 165
- 3. KTM 156
- 4. Yamaha 43
- 5. Honda 22
Team World Championship
- 1. Ducati Lenovo Team, 339 points
- 2. Prima Pramac Racing 256
- 3. Gresini Racing MotoGP 209
- 4. Aprilia Racing 203
- 5. Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team 137
- 6. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 133
- 7. Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 116
- 8. Trackhouse Racing 81
- 9. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 47
- 10. LCR Honda 20
- 11. Repsol Honda 13
World Championship, and the full race results."/>
