The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team showcased three riders for round four of the series and for the well-known narrow asphalt of the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. Turn 6 of the layout, named ‘Dani Pedrosa’, was rounded by the actual Red Bull KTM test rider who joined Brad Binder and Jack Miller for his second MotoGP wildcard outing since full-time retirement from racing at the end of 2018.
Binder and Miller, both previous winners at Jerez in multiple categories, located in Q2 positions on Friday. After the morning qualification Binder had to make it through Q1, but both racers defied tricky conditions in the wake of a brief rain shower to storm Q2.
Miller momentarily held Pole Position and was only outdone in the final seconds by one rider. The Australian ranked 2nd and less than a tenth of a second faster than Binder who was 4th: the 2-4 combo representing KTM’s best team qualification effort.
Pedrosa grabbed the headlines with the fastest lap during Practice 1 on Friday morning. The Spaniard qualified 6th in Q2, meaning all three KTM RC16s onto the first two rows of the grid.
Commenting on his qualifying performance, test and wildcard rider Dani Pedrosa said: “My first ‘new’ Saturday and qualifying was hectic with the conditions but we finally had five minutes of clear and dry track. I was a bit cautious not to touch the white lines I perhaps could have been faster but the second row was fantastic.”
The 12-lap Sprint was a KTM spectacle. Miller and Binder disputed the lead and were rarely separated by more than half a second. Binder’s move into Turn 6 was enough to provide the break he needed for his second ’12 points’ of the term.
Miller was passed by Francesco Bagnaia but still managed his first top three for the team in just his fourth GP. Pedrosa was forced off line in the opening corners of the chaotic exchange but then set a mean rhythm to stay in sight of the leading group and make sure of 6th.
Binder topped the rankings in the Saturday Sprint and after what has been the best-ever qualification results for the team with Miller 2nd on the grid and Binder 4th fastest. Wildcard rider Dani Pedrosa showed that skill and class are permanent by starting from 6th and confirming the same slot in the Sprint.
After a stellar Saturday, the Red Bull KTM trio lined-up for the full 25-lap Grand Prix race distance hopeful of more high competitiveness and podium contention. Starting from the same qualifying positions the KTM RC16s were prominently placed into the first corner. The race was forced into a restart after a collision in Turn 2 but the RC16s were again 1-2 from the ‘off’ and for the 24-lap chase.
Both riders swapped positions and track space but Binder was the main pace setter as Miller had his hands full with Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin. The Ducati rider hit the front with three laps of the 24 remaining and held off KTM’s Brad Binder to deny the South African a sprint-race double.
On his podium finish, rider Brad Binder said: “Today was fantastic. So happy to get a solid podium and to be out front leading the race. I kept seeing that I had a little gap, so I thought I had done the job and had to look after my rear tire…but I think I cooked it a bit with three-four laps to go.
“It is what it is, but I managed my best lap of the race right at the end trying to get Pecco: hats off to him. Thanks to my team and to everyone for their support. We’ll try again next week.”
Binder attacked hard and set his fastest lap on the final circulation. The margin was a narrow 0.2 of a second at the flag. Miller fended off Martin to come home in 3rd.
Discussing his performance, rider Jack Miller said: “I had to work for that one today! I had a great start and, like most of the boys, I was struggling with the right side of the tire by mid-race. I don’t quite know how but we started putting in some really fast laps at the end and I just couldn’t quite close up to two in front.
“Brad rode awesome, so did Pecco, there was some fun racing going on and I’m stoked to be a part of it and put Red Bull KTM up here again. It’s an amazing feeling and I hope we are here to stay.”
Complementing the team’s weekend performance, Red Bull KTM Team Manager Francesco Guidotti said: “What a weekend. We started the Grand Prix in the good way with Dani and then the Quali went perfect, we won the Sprint race and today was amazing.
“We did something special: both riders fighting for victory, leading most of the way and taking two spots on the podium. Personally, I want to thank every single person involved in this project. We are all super-committed but we are also under pressure because there is such a short time to show our potential each GP.
“The technicians, designers, mechanics, riders, the test team; thanks everyone for these incredible results. We are looking forward and we are confident.”
Binder has surged up to 3rd in the world championship standings, with his 12 point haul from Saturday – the second of the year so far – helping towards the total. Miller is 4th and just 13 points behind. KTM are 2nd in the Constructors table and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing hold the same slot in the Teams’ competition.
The Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España will be bookended by the first one-day official test of the season. The team will be busy again on Monday at Jerez with a view towards potential upgrades and more homologation ahead of the SHARK Grand Prix de France at Le Mans on May 13th-14th.