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Brad Binder's first victory in the MotoGP, KTM's first victory in the MotoGP, the first victory of a South African in the MotoGP, how can we define all this? "Insane!"is what the star of Brno repeated. Crazy, something unexpected, and that Brad can't describe, no matter how hard he tries.
"When I left the Moto2, I wondered how long I would have to wait to experience the thrill of a victory again. It only took three races," he said with his eyes wide open. A rookie hadn't won in the premier class since 2013. That was a certain Marc Marquez.
But now there's this blond guy, who'll turn 25 in two days, and who has given himself the best gift ever.
“If they were to have told me, I would never have believed it," he continues. "What can I say? "It's unbelievable. I still can't believe it's true. I've dreamt of winning in the MotoGP since I was a kid, and now it's a reality. I don't know where to begin."
So let's start from the race.
“I had a good start, and I got behind Quartararo, he was fast ." Brad starts explaining. "Then, at a certain point, I realized he was starting to struggle with the tires, and I passed him. I caught up with Morbidelli, and he did the same thing, while I continued to go fast. At that moment, I decided to push.”
A perfect strategy because, lap after lap, he distanced himself from Franco.
“They were ten crazy laps," he smiles. "I tried to stay calm, I had a good advantage over Franco, but I was expecting another drop in the tire in the last 3 laps, and I thought he would catch up with me up. What did it feel like to win? "It was the coolest sensation in my whole life!”
The South African had already demonstrated his talent in Spain, but he wasn't able to reach good results.
"I was coming from the two races in Jerez. I made a mistake in the first and, in the other, I was involved in a contact," he recalls. "Today, I tried not to do anything crazy. I waited for the right opportunities."
But the real turning point in his weekend was yesterday morning.
“Friday was not going well. As soon as I touched the gas, I risked flying off the bike," he recalls with a smile. "Then, on Saturday morning, the bike was more stable in the FP3s. The team did an impressive job. I knew I had a good pace today. What I didn't know was if it was enough to win. In the other races, I had practically always ridden alone. Maybe it was an advantage not knowing what was going to happen. Then I crossed the finish line, and it was a shock! The only thing I regret is not having my family here with me.”
They'll certainly be proud of him, because Brad won like a seasoned champion. It seems incredible that he only got into the KTM in November.
“In the tests in Jerez and Valencia last year I realized how difficult it was to ride a MotoGP. I was completely lost," he explains. "I can't describe the differences with the Moto2. It's simply another world. The team helped me a lot to learn and improve. I trained very hard in the winter, and when I got on the 2020 bike in Sepang, I found it easier to ride. They've done an incredible job in the KTM. I can't wait to go back to the garage to hug all the members of my team.”
There won't be much time to celebrate. On Friday he'll be back on track at the Red Bull Ring, the KTM's home track.
“And tomorrow we'll have a day of testing here. Maybe we'll find something better, " Binder emphasizes. "After a great result like this, I'm going to Austria with great confidence, but we also have to be realistic. I don't want to say anything else. For now, I just want to thank the KTM."
