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Is KTM chassis upgrade missing piece of Binder’s MotoGP puzzle?
South African star hopeful his upgraded bike can pass the test at Japan Grand Prix.
Brad Binder is confident Red Bull KTM’s carbon chassis upgrade can put his team in good stead at the Japan MotoGP. Picture: AFP
A Red Bull KTM chassis upgrade might be the missing piece of the puzzle for Brad Binder in his quest for MotoGP glory.
Binder confirmed at the official pre-race Press conference on Thursday that KTM will be using a new carbon chassis on the RC16 bike at this weekend’s Japan MotoGP.
The new chassis was used with much success by test rider Dani Pedrosa at the recent San Marino Grand Prix. Pedrosa, who came in as a wildcard, was the best KTM rider in Misano with two fourth place finishes.
Binder and his team-mate Jack Miller got to try out the new chassis during the official testing day after the San Marino MotoGP. After holding off on it last weekend at the inaugural Indian MotoGP, KTM is now ready to try it in Motegi.
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Rear grip improvement
“The biggest advantage from the chassis we tested in Misano is that it had a bit of rear grip. This is something we have been seriously lacking with the new bike we started the season with,” Binder, who recorded two fourth places in India, said.
“We struggle with contact on corner entry and that is where we spin a lot, especially on the upright.
“It’s always tricky when you test something at Misano on a Monday after the race because the track becomes super grippy. But this will be the first good opportunity for us to test it somewhere else.”
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The fact that the top three – all Ducati riders – has opened up a considerable gap on fourth-placed Binder in the title race might be behind the Austrian outfit’s decision to go for broke in the remaining seven races of the season.
The title is a three-horse race between Francesco Bagnaia (292), Jorge Martin (279) and Marco Bezzecchi (248). Binder (192) trails Bezzecchi by 56 points, with a 32-point breathing space to Aleix Espargaro (160) in fifth.
Brad Binder excited
Binder is excited to return to a happy hunting ground, where he qualified on the first row of the grid and finished second in last year’s Japan MotoGP. Despite two sprint wins, the top step of the podium in a main race still eludes him in 2023.
“It’s clear to me that we have made a massive step from last season and last season worked really well for us here,” said Binder.
“I’m [excited] and it will be fantastic to see how we manage. It will be fantastic to stand on the box again, but of course the goal is always the top step.”
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Darryn back with a bang
Brad Binder’s younger brother, Darryn, will also line up this weekend with renewed energy after his showing in India. The Moto2 rider finished seventh in India after returning from injury for the second time this season, this time after recovering from a fractured vertebra sustained in the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP rider is 19th in the Moto2 title race on 22 points.
The Japan MotoGP sprint race is at 8am on Saturday and the main race at 8am on Sunday.
