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Moto3, Binder: I lost the battle but won the war

Brad takes the world title home to South Africa: "I hope this repays my parents for the sacrifices they've made. I can't believe what's happened"

Binder: I lost the battle but won the war

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South Africa has waited 36 years to celebrate another world champion and today Binder has put an end to the dry spell. After the title scored by Jon Ekerold in 350 in 1980, Brad has won the Moto3 championship in Spain, topping off what has been a practically perfect season. Five wins and 11 podiums over 14 races, numbers that speak for themselves.

Today at Aragon he would have also liked the cherry on top of what is an already exquisite cake. “I lost the battle but won the war” he smiled as he climbed off the bike.

A few minutes later, Binder was still overwhelmed.

I really don't know what to say, it all seems so strange. Maybe tonight it will also seem more real”.

Then, as he tries to come to terms with what he's achieved, he thinks back to how this dream began.

“In South Africa there is no high level championship, so at 12 years old I moved to Europe to race. I have to thank my parents - who are at Aragon and appear in the photo on the right together with Brad - They've really made a lot of sacrifices and I hope I've repaid them today”.

Brad made his debut in the 125 class in the final races of 2011, before moving to Moto3 but without managing to win a race.

Until Jerez this year - he recalls - That was the most important win, I started last and finished first. This season, whenever I was having trouble, I'd think back to that race. If I managed to win that one, I knew I could solve any problem”.

Not that he had many.

The team and KTM have worked perfectly and this has removed a lot of the stress for me - he confirms - Even today I didn't feel that much pressure, deep down, even if it had gone badly, I knew I had four more races in which to win the title, I wasn't risking everything in the last race”.

From here to Valencia, he can just focus on enjoying himself.

I will push and whatever happens will happen, it was strange to me to have to manage the races at times”.

So a party this evening and then testing.

We were thinking of testing the KTM Moto2, but it seems the regulation won't allow it - explains - I'll do some work on the Moto3”.

Translated by Heather Watson
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