At the last MotoGP event at MotorLand in 2022, the KTM factory riders finished second on the podium. In 2024, Brad Binder missed the podium in both attempts, but collected many World Championship points and renewed confidence.
Fourth place at the Grand Prix of Aragon – for KTM factory rider Brad Binder, the weekend at MotorLand ended much better than it had started. On a very unsatisfactory first day of training, Binder, like all the other RC16 riders, was unable to make it straight into Q2.
Pedro Acosta managed to make it into the decisive qualification on Saturday and secured a good starting position with 7th place. However, Brad Binder was unable to make use of his good starting qualities. “After the very bad start in the sprint, I had thought a lot about how I could do better at the GP start. And in reality, I started off again for ages with the rear wheel spinning. I lost positions again today. At least I managed to deactivate the starting devices again today.”
But the South African managed to recover quickly. For the entire distance, the #33 clung to the rear wheel of the world champion, who had started even worse. The pursuit had both good and bad sides. Binder: “I drove completely at the limit behind Pecco. The pace was good, but the result was that the front tire soon overheated. I tried to protect the rubber at the front and drove harder over the rear wheel until then. The result was that the rear tire was also worn out on the left flank five laps before the end. It was then no longer possible to attack. But I am satisfied with the result of the weekend.”
During the Aragon GP, several competitors made comments that Binder and Acosta in particular were almost impossible to overtake. Binder grinned: “If there's one thing we can do, it's slow down. We're best at killing speed. Reducing speed, deep into the corners, that's one of our strengths.”
The RC16 rider, who together with Acosta moved up past Maverick Vinales to sixth place in the World Championship table, said with regard to the two upcoming races in Misano: “It was important for everyone in the team to take a step here. Although the track had no grip at all, we learned it again. I want us to focus a little more on the balance of the bike for the next events.”
Results MotoGP Aragon, Grand Prix (1 September):
1. Marc Márquez (E), Ducati, 23 laps in 41:47.082 min
2. Jorge Martín (E), Ducati, +4,789 sec
3. Pedro Acosta (E), KTM, +14,904
4. Brad Binder (ZA), KTM, +16,459
5. Enea Bastianini (I), Ducati, +18,776
6. Franco Morbidelli (I), Ducati, +20,549
7. Marco Bezzecchi (I), Ducati, +24,759
8. Fabio Di Giannantonio (I), Ducati, +37,159
9. Alex Rins (E), Yamaha, +39,420
10. Jack Miller (AUS), KTM, +39.966
11. Aleix Espargaró (E), Aprilia, +40,602
12. Takaaki Nakagami (J), Honda, +41,782
13. Augusto Fernández (E), KTM, +42,083
14. Johann Zarco (F), Honda, +43.264
15. Joan Mir (E), Honda, +49.735
16. Raúl Fernández (E), Aprilia, +57,322
17. Luca Marini (I), Honda, +1:52.386 mins
– Alex Márquez (E), Ducati, 6 laps back
– Francesco Bagnaia (I), Ducati, 6 laps back
– Maverick Viñales (E), Aprilia, 13 laps back
– Fabio Quartararo (F), Yamaha, 17 laps back
– Miguel Oliveira (P), Aprilia, 23 laps back
Results MotoGP Aragon, Sprint (31 August):
1. Marc Márquez (E), Ducati, 11 laps in 19:50.034 mins
2. Jorge Martín (E), Ducati, +2,961 seconds
3. Pedro Acosta (E), KTM, +6,694
4. Alex Márquez (E), Ducati, +9,950
5. Miguel Oliveira (P), Aprilia, +11,749
6. Brad Binder (ZA), KTM, +14,144
7. Enea Bastianini (I), Ducati, +14,291
8. Fabio Quartararo (F), Yamaha, +18,836
9. Francesco Bagnaia (I), Ducati, +20,298
10. Marco Bezzecchi (I), Ducati, +20,448
11. Raúl Fernández (E), Aprilia, +20,678
12. Augusto Fernández (E), KTM, +21,429
13. Jack Miller (AUS), KTM, +22.110
14. Takaaki Nakagami (J), Honda, +22,440
15. Antonio Di Giannantonio (I), Ducati, +23,468
16. Luca Marini (I), Honda, +26,822
17. Alex Rins (E), Yamaha, +26.910
18. Joan Mir (E), Honda, +31.147
19. Maverick Viñales (E), Aprilia, +37,642
– Franco Morbidelli (I), Ducati, 10 laps back
– Johann Zarco (F), Honda, 11 laps back
– Aleix Espargaró (E), Aprilia, 11 laps back
World Championship standings after 24 of 40 races:
1. Martin, 299 points. 2. Bagnaia 276. 3. Marc Marquez 229. 4. Bastianini 228. 5. Acosta 148. 6. Binder 145. 7. Vinales 139. 8. Aleix Espargaro 118. 9. Di Giannantonio 112. 10. Alex Márquez 104. 11. Morbidelli 83 2. Bezz ecchi 82. 13. Oliveira 60. 14. Miller 50. 15. Quartararo 51. 16. Raul Fernandez 46. 17. Augusto Fernandez 19. 18. Nakagami 17. 19. Zarco 16. 20. Rins 15. 21. Mir 14. 22. Pedrosa 7. 23. Pol Espargaro 6. 24. Marini 1.
Constructors’ World Championship:
1. Ducati, 426 points. 2. Aprilia 219. 3. KTM 217. 4. Yamaha 62. 5. Honda 33.
Team World Championship:
1. Ducati Lenovo Team, 504 points. 2. Prima Pramac Racing 382. 3. Gresini Racing MotoGP 333. 4. Aprilia Racing 258. 5. Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team 194. 6. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 193. 7. Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 168. 8. Trackhouse Racing 106. 9. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 66. 10. LCR Honda 35. 11. Repsol Honda 16.
