Binder just misses out on podium finish at Aragon GP

The South African rider picked up a handy 13 points from the Sunday’s main race to add to the four he picked up with his sixth-place sprint finish on Saturday. Binder is currently sixth in the riders’ championships standings, and he trails his future teammate Pedro Acosta by three points.

Binder improved three places from his initial seventh-place start and kept up with championship challenger Francesco Bagnaia for most of the race after his slow start from third position.

Bagnaia swiftly manoeuvred his way through the field and gave Binder full exposure to Acosta in the latter stages of the race, but the 29-year-old couldn’t get the move done in time and he narrowly missed out on a podium finish.

“I tried my best to get Pedro but there was nothing left from the rear,” he said after the race.

“A really tricky race. I needed a good start but I spun off the line again and all the way to turn one. I managed to pick my way through and pass a few guys. It was difficult not to make mistakes because the front tire was cooking until the end of the race.

“We tried something different with the balance of the bike this weekend and it seemed to work over the distance. I think we have made a small step and we’ll try again next week.”

Red Bull KTM manager Francesco Guidotti was happy with the outcome of the weekend and he feels positive about what the future might hold as focus shifts to the San Marino Grand Prix this weekend.

“It was tricky because there were always different conditions or circumstances but we were able to manage it. Steady results and we now go to Misano also looking at the test afterwards.”