Brad charges to eighth in spirited #FrenchGP fightback

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Brad Binder was the highest placed KTM RC16 finisher in surprisingly overcast conditions at Le Mans for a ram-packed Grand Prix de France and round five of 2024 MotoGP season. The South African rode superbly from the back of the grid to 8th position after 27 laps at the famous ‘Circuit de la Sarthe’.

Le Mans was full to capacity and the hoards of public noisily cheered the MotoGP grid for the fifth Grand Prix of the current campaign but the bright summer weather of the first two days had vanished to be replaced by overcast skies and the threat of warm showers.

Friday and Saturday’s practice and qualification travails had seen Jack Miller and Brad Binder occupy 11th and 22nd positions on the grid and with keen objectives around the ‘stop-and-go’ 4.1km layout. The delicate climate complicated matters at 14.00 on Sunday but both riders made lively getaways on the KTM RC16 and the race remained dry.

Brad made a rasping flight from the last row of the grid and up to the fringe of the top eight. He had already passed nine riders on the first lap but then concentrated on grabbing as many points as possible and a last-gasp lunge on the final circulation gave him a well-deserved 8th.

In terms of the championship picture – as the MotoGP year lodges almost a quarter of the calendar to the archives – Brad has accumulated 67 points and sits 7th in the table. Jack is 13th with a total of 24. KTM are 2nd in the Constructors contest. A weekend of respite comes before a double header with Grands Prix in Catalunya and Italy at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Mugello next on the slate.

Brad Binder

“I got a really good start today but I wanted more from the race because I could see 6th place right in front of me. Anyway, we came from a long way back so I cannot complain. Also, we made a really big step from yesterday’s Sprint race to today: I felt a lot better, more confident and was able to ride. I think we’ve got some work to do still but considering where we were on the grid we cannot be too upset today.”