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What times to watch Brad Binder race in MotoGP this weekend
Red Bull KTM rider out to make amends at Grand Prix of the Americas after Argentina roller-coaster.
Red Bull KTM rider Brad Binder will be out to improve his MotoGP record at the Circuit of the Americas this weekend. Picture Getty Images
Fresh from a bittersweet outing at the Argentina MotoGP, Red Bull KTM rider Brad Binder will be out to make amends at the Grand Prix of the Americas this weekend.
Binder stormed from 15th on the grid to an epic win in the sprint race in Argentina – only the second ever sprint race in MotoGP history – before an early slip the next day in the main race kept him out of the points.
In the season opening Portugal MotoGP, the KTM man failed to score points in the first-ever sprint race, but a brave ride on the Sunday earned him a sixth place in the main race.
Brad Binder eighth in title race
The 12th points Binder earned for his sprint race win in Argentina and the 10 points for finishing sixth in Portugal means that his tally for the season is 22, placing him eighth in the world championship standings.
Marco Bezzecchi, who earned 34 out of the available 36 points in Argentina, leads the rider’s championship with 50 points. His Italian compatriot and 2022 world champion Francesco Bagnaia is second on 41 points. Bagnaia managed to bag all 36 on offer in Portugal.
Judging by Binder’s eight previous outings at this weekend’s venue, the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, it’s safe to say that it is definitely not his favourite track. COTA, which was purposely built for Formula One and opened a dozen years ago, is 5.514km long and features 20 turns.
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In four Moto3 outings, the South African’s best finish in Austin is third place, which he achieved during his 2016 world championship-winning campaign.
He finished one of his two Moto2 races at the circuit – in sixth place – while two starts at the venue in the premier class has resulted in a ninth and 12th place.
MotoGP race times
The two MotoGP free practice sessions are scheduled for 7.15pm and 10pm on Friday, followed by the third session at 5.15pm on Saturday. The two qualifying sessions are scheduled for 5.50pm and 6.15pm on Saturday, followed by the sprint race at 10pm.
The main race takes place at 9pm on Sunday.
Brad Binder’s younger brother Darryn Binder, who is competing for Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP in Moto2 this season, is 12th in the world championship standings on 10 points. After crashing out of the opening race in Portugal, he bounced back by finishing sixth in Argentina.
The Moto2 race start at 7.15pm on Sunday.
