Sports
Brad Binder Battles to Eighth in Thailand as Ducati Dominates
Brad Binder secured a crucial 10 points at the Chang International Circuit over the weekend, but the Red Bull KTM team faces growing concerns as Ducati continues to dominate, locking out all three podium spots.
Starting from 14th on the grid, the South African rider fought his way up to finish eighth, earning him seventh place in the riders’ championship. Despite the scorching conditions, Binder managed his tyres carefully to maintain a steady pace throughout the race.
“A really long race, for sure. I knew we had to be really easy on the rear tyre and smooth on the corner exit. Very tricky, especially because it is tempting to get excited and chase harder after people,” Binder reflected.
Looking ahead to the next race in Argentina at the Termas de Río Hondo circuit, Binder remains optimistic about improving his performance. “I knew I had to be clever today, but I also think I made a bit of a mistake with my tyre choice. Anyway, I think we did a pretty good job considering it wasn’t an easy weekend. The team did a great job, so we’ll keep on fighting and hope for more in Argentina,” he added.
Red Bull KTM’s racing team manager, Aki Ajo, acknowledged the challenges but was pleased with the data collected. The Finn, who replaced Francesco Guidotti at the start of the season, believes the RC16 will perform better in cooler conditions.
“The first race weekend of the season is crucial for gathering information, and we need a few races to assess our position,” Ajo stated. “We know we need to improve in extreme conditions, but we also know that when it’s cooler, we are competitive. We are learning, and in this way, I’m happy. Performance-wise, we have work to do.”
As the season progresses, KTM will be aiming for better results while trying to close the gap to the dominant Ducati riders.
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