Brad Binder admits he wasn’t expecting to mount a challenge for victory in the 12-lap Argentina MotoGP Sprint Race from a lowly 15th on the grid, the KTM Factory Racing rider clinching a third career win in the MotoGP class at Termas de Rio Hondo. The South African produced a stunning ride from a near-final row starting position to muscle his way from 15th to first in just two-and-a-half laps, Binder going on to hold firm to the flag after fending off a late attack from Marco Bezzecchi.
Having carved a reputation as a lightning quick starter since making his MotoGP debut with KTM in 2020 - a reflex skill developed to negate a somewhat inconsistent qualifying record - Binder has gone on to earn the nickname ‘Sunday Man’ in a nod to a tendency to leave it until the races to show his best form.
It is perhaps ironic then that the rider many would expect to take time getting into a full length grand prix needed only 100m to get from 15th to fifth at Turn 1. “I didn’t expect that at all,” he said after the race. “The bike worked so well from the first lap.
We made a huge step from Friday and I could keep a rhythm to go faster than my best lap yesterday “I got the most unreal start I could have ever asked for.