KTM has made history at the Czech GP in Brno, winning their first-ever MotoGP victory after three-and-a-half years in the premier motorcycle racing league. Brad Binder, in just his third outing in the premier class, took the KTM RC16 to a clear victory.
“Honestly, right now, I'm lost for words. I've dreamed of this since I was a little boy and today it came true. It is amazing to win my first GP [in MotoGP]. Thank you to everybody who supported me, and the whole team: they put an insane motorcycle beneath me today!” said winning rider, Brad Binder.
The victory was also made extra special in the sense that it is the first-ever MotoGP victory for South Africa, the rider's home country.
MotoGP basked in elevated summer temperatures for the annual visit to the Automotodrom Brno. Teams and riders had spent the better part of two days refining set-ups in the search for traction and to preserve tire life across the bumpy asphalt.
Red Bull KTM saw Pol Espargaro and Brad Binder launch away from the second and third rows of the starting grid with the Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16s machines of Miguel Oliveira and Iker Lecuona also in the mix.
Both Espargaro and Binder settled into the top five from the outset. While Binder found the extra speed to work his way to the front, Espargaro was in hot pursuit until he collided with Johann Zarco in the tussle for 3rd place and crashed out on lap 10. Lecuona was also out of the running.
Binder went from strength to strength as he passed the winner of the first two Grands Prix, Fabio Quartararo, and also Franco Morbidelli to control the race from P1 and with authority for the last nine laps of the 21. Miguel Oliveira also moved through the pack and his 6th position at the checkered flag represented his personal best result in MotoGP to-date.
