Brad Binder delivered a solid performance at the Austrian Grand Prix, securing a fifth place which allowed him to consolidate his position in the general classification. However, the South African rider expresses some reservations about the overall performance of his KTM.
Brad Binder, the flagship driver of KTM, finished fifth in the Austrian Grand Prix, but this result only tells part of the story. Although the position may seem honorable, it masks a deep discontent on the part of the South African, who saw the reality much bleaker than it appears.
Saturday, during the Sprint, Binder had already been unimpressed with his seventh-place finish, a stark contrast to his 2023 performances where he finished second in both races. This time, the Ducati, relentless, dominated the race without Brad Binder can really compete.
For the Sunday Grand Prix, Brad Binder was hoping for a top 5, which ultimately came true. However, from the start, the day took a more positive turn thanks to a brilliant start from the fourth row, allowing him to quickly move up to fifth place, partly thanks to a collision between Franco Morbidelli et Marc Marquez in the first turn.
Brad Binder: “ normally this position means 3-4 seconds for the winner, here it was 18 »
With his teammate Jack Miller behind him, Binder attempted to follow the leading trio, but this attempt quickly turned into a defensive strategy. “ The departure was a real plus. After that, I was able to control my race well, ” said Brad Binder, praising his team’s fuel management, a crucial point on this demanding circuit.
But behind this apparent satisfaction, Brad Binder did not hide his frustration at the lack of competitiveness over the total distance: “ the result is less good than it appears. Fifth place is satisfactory. But falling behind the leader is not going at all. Normally this position means 3-4 seconds to the winner – today it was 18. This is clearly too huge.”
This merciless analysis of his performance reveals the extent of the problem: KTM, despite a good start to the race, simply could not keep the pace set by the leaders. And when Marc Marquez finally overtook him ten laps from the end, Brad Binder knew it was inevitable. “ I knew Marc would come at some point…After the slow turn 4 until the long 5, I had the least traction. I was a real snail on the curve.”
Despite his disappointment, the points earned in Austria allowed to Brad Binder to exceed Peter Acosta au General classification, positioning himself as the best driver KTM. But for a competitor of his caliber, this fifth place does not hide a feeling of incompletion.
