Red Bull KTM Factory Racing posted a 6th place thanks to Brad Binder at a sun-kissed and packed Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto and the fourth round of 2024 MotoGP. Jack Miller and Dani Pedrosa could not reach the finish line but Binder was the first KTM RC16 rider to the flag.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing entered the 25-lap Spanish Grand Prix fresh with the aroma of podium Prosecco courtesy of Dani Pedrosa’s 3rd position in the Sprint on Saturday at Jerez and with the vibrant atmosphere of a new circuit attendance hitting almost 300,000 people for the weekend.
As the race started Brad Binder powered into the leading sect from the first corners while Pedrosa and Jake Miller, who was 2nd fastest in morning Warm-Up, had more work to do from the second half of the grid. Dani fell after three laps entering Turn 8 while Jack powered into the top ten after decent early work. The Australian’s race ended with eight laps to go when he was hit by another rider into Turn 5. Brad engaged in a three-way tussle for 4th that was decided by half a second between the trio at the flag and the South African rested 6th.
Brad is 7th in the world championship standings and ahead of Jack in 14th. The Grand Prix de France means another busy and prominent date on the MotoGP calendar. Round five will dip into the speed and curves of Le Mans in a fortnight.
Brad Binder, 6th: “Today’s race was a little bit tricky. I did not get the same start as yesterday and just didn’t have the same pace as the boys upfront. I tried my best but it wasn’t quite our day. I had a lot of chatter from the first lap and it made it difficult to carry corner speed. We need to sit down and work out what was going on because that was the first time we had the issue this weekend.”
Jack Miller, DNF: “I had some pace and was trying to go with Pedro when I copped a bike to the side in Turn 5. There was nothing I could do about it. Not ideal. When it rains it pours! We are struggling to turn the luck in our direction…but we’ll keep plugging away and the test tomorrow will be important to iron out a few things and understand what’s going on.”
Dani Pedrosa, DNF: “I made a good start and recovered some positions. I was hopeful of a good race and a good rhythm. For some reason I lost the front wheel in Turn 8. I was not pushing to the maximum there. Maybe it was because if you don’t take the perfect line then you hit a slippery spot. My aim was to make the top ten. Anyway we took some experience with the new bike, what it is capable of doing and ideas for the future direction of the development. We will also take away the atmosphere and the Sprint podium from yesterday!”
Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Where to start?! A very strange weekend. Brad had some tricky vibration today through the left corners and that didn’t allow him to ride as he could. He took some good points but this is not his potential, for sure. Jack was also building up some points but his race finished in the gravel. Tomorrow we have the test and some interesting things to try; things that Daniel used here this weekend. It was a shame he did not finish the race but he hit one of the damp patches that was still there. Luckily, he is uninjured but a pity to close the weekend that way. We’ll work tomorrow, and also at the factory and look ahead to the next races.”
- From Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Press Release
