Strong pace leads to fifth place for Brad in the #AustrianGP
The vast orange grandstand on the outskirts of Turn 6 at the Red Bull Ring cranked up the volume for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and for Brad Binder in particular as the South African ran to a top five result at the eleventh round of 2024 MotoGP. #33 shone on home turf but KTM RC16s grabbed points with four motorcycles in the final top fifteen after the 28-lap race.
Three Red Bull KTM RC16s in the top nine after the 14-lap Saturday Sprint gave the factory quiet hopes for more points and possible prizes at their home Grand Prix. Heavy showers and thunderstorms cleared the thick summer air on Saturday evening and the main event got underway dry and warm on Sunday afternoon.
Tire conservation was key for the 28-lap distance and this factor influenced the progress of Brad Binder who worked his way from 12th to teammate Jack Miller’s exhaust trail in the opening exchanges.
By the end of the chase it was Brad who prevailed, marking a top five after a typically demanding Grand Prix outing (he is now back to 6th in the championship standings).
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will be able to apply their confidence and information gained from a busy Austrian fixture to round twelve in two weeks’ time around the weave of the MotorLand Aragon layout in eastern Spain.
Brad Binder
5th:“I can’t ask for more from today. I gave my best from beginning to the end and tried to not make mistakes and set my own rhythm without murdering the tire! We managed to get home with it in quite a good state. Top five; I wanted a bit more for the home Grand Prix but we figured some good things out this weekend so let’s keep building from here. I think we’ll be OK in Aragon and I’m hoping for a good result.”