DNF in the #AustralianGP Sprint Race for Brad

MotoGP formed up on ‘hallowed’ ground in Australia for the seventeenth Grand Prix of the season and for the first meeting of another triple header that involves trips to Thailand and then Malaysia in subsequent weeks. The fast, flowing Phillip Island layout had been resurfaced for the 28th FIM World Championship fixture and since the course became the favorite for many riders after its inauguration for Grand Prix motorcycle racing in 1989.

For all its technical brilliance and wonder, the 4.5km course is routinely plagued by the unstable October climate in the Victoria state. On Friday MotoGP lost FP1 due to torrential rainfall and standing water on the track. Amazingly, Practice in the afternoon was run in dry conditions and Brad was able to achieve direct Q2 status despite the lack of track time.

On Saturday morning Phillip Island was windy and cool, creating headaches for lines, braking and tire choice. Brad was in a determined mood through Q2 and was 11th.

Phillip Island had produced some of the closest race finishes of all-time and the action was plentiful and tense for the first ever Sprint at the venue. Brad gunned the KTM RC16 from 11th to 4th on the first lap and then nestled into a chase for points. He lost the front end tipping into Turn 4 on the penultimate lap.

Brad Binder

11th in qualification, DNF in the Sprint:

“Not the day I had in mind. I did not put a lap together in qualifying this morning. I did my first two laps and then let the new rear tire cool down too much on the out lap and couldn’t bring it back up. I made a good start in the Sprint but then really struggled in the first laps. Once I settled and improved then we moved forwards. I felt like I was getting faster but unfortunately just locked the front heading into the hairpin. Hopefully tomorrow we’ll have a better one.”