BINDER STRUGGLES WITH FRONT-END PROBLEMS IN SEPANG GP

Pedro Acosta led KTM’s Sepang charge, winning the sprint and finishing second in the Grand Prix. The manufacturer also placed three riders in the top 10 in both races: Brad Binder and Enea Bastianini were seventh and ninth in the sprint, then ninth and fifth in Sunday’s race. Maverick Viñales was KTM’s only rider outside the top 10, finishing 15th and 14th.

Binder started 15th but made an excellent getaway in the sprint. “I have no idea why it was so good — I wish I could repeat it,” he said. In the Grand Prix, he again started well, passing three riders on the opening lap. He gained three more places over the remaining 19 laps, with retirements and crashes contributing to his progress.

The South African said front-end problems soon limited his pace. “After four laps, the front wheel slid away from me for the first time; my bike understeered in every long corner,” he explained. As the rear tyre wore, he was still able to brake strongly, but could not push as he wanted. Binder also described a lively battle with Franco Morbidelli at several corner entries.

“I had the pace to be much better, but I was already in trouble after four laps,” Binder said. “Because I couldn’t push after that, it felt like a Sunday lunchtime ride.” He added, with a wry smile, that racing at the back of the field “is rubbish.”

With three rounds remaining, Binder sits 12th in the championship. He is seven points behind Fermín Aldeguer and 16 behind KTM teammate Bastianini, leaving the top 10 within reach. Binder is due to leave MotoGP after the season and join BMW in the Superbike World Championship.