Lusail International Circuit, Qatar: In the penultimate round of the MotoGP season, Brad Binder showcased a formidable performance aboard his KTM RC16, powering his way through the Qatari night air at the dazzling Lusail International Circuit.
Amidst a challenging second phase of the campaign, the South African rider initially surged to an impressive 3rd position, only to navigate the latter laps strategically, nursing his front tyre and securing a commendable 5th place. The subsequent event in the final triple-header witnessed Jack Miller clinching a respectable 9th position on a track notorious for inconsistent grip and performance.
In the second of the final three-race stretch in Malaysia, Qatar, and Spain, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing made significant progress yet again earning valuable Grand Prix points at a circuit which posed challenges for the teams.
Notably, Brad Binder’s performance in the Saturday Sprint and Sunday races solidified his position as the 4th best rider in the world championship standings for 2023, marking a remarkable achievement in his fourth season in the premier class. Meanwhile, Jack Miller secured his twelfth top-ten result in his inaugural season with Red Bull KTM, engaging in a hard-fought battle to secure 9th place over the 22-lap race.
The Qatar Grand Prix, with its unique features including the impressive lighting system, remodeled infrastructure, and the challenging 5.4km, 16-corner layout, provided a distinctive backdrop. Despite experiencing the demanding Lusail tarmac during Saturday’s prelude, the full Grand Prix on Sunday posed a fresh set of challenges for Red Bull KTM.
Starting from 10th and 15th places on the grid, Brad Binder and Jack Miller aimed for optimal performance throughout the 22 laps. Binder showcased early prowess, climbing to 3rd place before managing his tyre degradation to finish 5th, less than three seconds from the podium. Miller, starting from 15th, exhibited his fastest pace of the weekend, making significant moves up the order to secure 9th place.
As the checkered flag waved, Binder’s 11 points solidified his 4th place in the 2023 standings, while Miller’s 11th position could potentially be converted into 9th. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is poised to confirm 4th place in the Teams standings, with KTM holding 2nd in the Constructors contest.
The season concludes at the Circuito de Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, where KTM’s MotoGP journey began in 2016. The team looks forward to the final Grand Prix of the year, aiming to build on their historic achievements at the iconic track.
Brad Binder, 5th, said: “Today was actually really good. To walk away with a 5th and to fight for the podium was very positive. My rear tire was perfect but my front tire gave-up after about twelve laps in, from there I was just trying to survive. Probably one of the hardest races I had in terms of dealing with the limit. I just wanted to bring it home in a solid 5th. My team did a great job to get us in this position today because the weekend was much more tricky than we anticipated.”
Jack Miller, 9th, said: “My pace was decent and I finally made some passes to get ahead of the big group I had in front. I felt better than yesterday. Semi-positive end to what had been a difficult weekend. I’m looking forward to Valencia, one of my favorite tracks.”
Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Team Manager: “We raced today! Brad was in the leading group and was there for many laps, until seven to go even though his feeling with front was not the best. He didn’t give up and finished 5th: still a good position considering how the weekend had been so far.
“We aren’t that happy but more satisfied than we were on Saturday. Jack had a very good race despite being stuck in traffic on the first corner. He recovered quite a lot of positions with good lap-times. Both riders were able to compete and fight back. We’ll gather as much information as we can from this weekend and go to Valencia.”