San Marino: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s three-pronged attack had its ups and downs, with Dani Pedrosa’s stellar performance, Brad Binder’s valiant recovery charge, and Jack Miller’s unfortunate exit making headlines.
Binder was undoubtedly one of the race’s standout performers before misfortune struck. The South African rider was charging hard in fourth place and narrowing the gap to the three-rider fight for the podium.
Unfortunately, he lost traction and crashed in Turn 14 during the early stages of the race. Undeterred, Binder remounted his KTM RC16 and managed to reach the flag in 14th place, securing two valuable championship points.
Shortly after Binder’s crash, Jack Miller was also dealt a harsh blow. A collision with another rider at Turn 4 brought his race to an abrupt end, leaving him unable to complete the Grand Prix.
Dani Pedrosa, however, showcased his exceptional skills and determination throughout the race. Starting in the top five from the beginning, Pedrosa quickly made his presence felt on the track. When Binder’s incident occurred, Pedrosa seized the opportunity to gain ground on the race leaders.
He embarked on a sustained bid to secure a coveted podium finish, a feat he hadn’t achieved in six years, and a seventh time at Misano. Pedrosa came tantalizingly close to passing world champion Francesco Bagnaia, with the gap at the finish line a mere half a second.
As the world championship standings currently stand, Brad Binder holds a strong fourth position with 173 points, needing 45 more points to breach the top three.
Jack Miller occupies the 10th spot, while Dani Pedrosa has accumulated enough points to sit comfortably in 18th place among the 29 riders. In the team rankings, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing stands as the fifth-best team, while KTM ranks second in the Constructors’ listing.
Looking ahead, the inaugural Indian Grand Prix is set to make history at the Buddh International Circuit on September 23rd-24th, promising more thrilling racing action and exciting moments for MotoGP enthusiasts.
Reflecting on his race, Dani Pedrosa commented, “I had a few problems in the first laps because the rear tire wasn’t heating up quickly enough for me, especially on the left side, and I had a few scares. I had to be patient and started to build the rhythm after three-four laps.
“After Brad crashed, I saw the group ahead was not getting away from me, so I thought, ‘Let’s give everything and try to catch them.’ Our work yesterday and today has helped us to learn a lot and to continue improving.”
Brad Binder expressed his disappointment but acknowledged the positives, saying, “To be honest in both races we have been fast. Yesterday I had an issue at the start and was able to catch-up, which was really good. Then today I improved and was feeling great but it looks like I had a little bit more [lean] angle in Turn 14 and it was enough to lose the front.
“After that it was a very long 20 laps with some of the aero gone. There are positives to take from today but sorry to the guys in my team for losing a good opportunity.”
Jack Miller summed up his race, stating, “I got a semi-decent start and was doing my best to stick with the group in front. I felt like my pace was getting better and better as the race went on but then I was sucker-punched.
“I couldn’t do too much about it. The test tomorrow should be an important day for us and has come at a good time. I will be happy to spend more time on the bike to understand some things and get some confidence back.”
Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Team Manager, offered his perspective on the day, saying, “Two crashes was a little bit too much for us today. Jack was involved in a multi-rider crash and he didn’t deserve it but that can happen. We need to work to help him and that will be the plan tomorrow.
“Brad was on a mission and had a better start compared to yesterday. He was trying to manage the situation and suddenly went down. Even without the side pod his pace to come back was pretty good and he could salvage some points. We didn’t have much luck.
“We are confident, and we know our potential and it wasn’t what we showed today. We won’t give up and seeing Dani in this shape gives us a boost for the future with the new parts. We have a high level of curiosity for what our factory riders will say tomorrow.”
The Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini may have had its share of challenges, but the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team remains resolute and eager to continue their journey in the world of MotoGP.