COTA’ attracts adjectives like ‘tricky’, ‘technical’ and even more fanciful ones like ‘rodeo’ for the weaving blend of turns and speed through the 5.5km, 20-corner layout on the outskirts of Austin. Red Bull KTM came to the popular site hunting more competitiveness and with their eyes on podium potential for the first time in the USA.
Sunshine, breezy and hot conditions graced both Friday’s practice schedule and Saturday’s intense qualification schedule heading into the 10-lap afternoon Sprint. Both riders had to attempt Q1 in the morning and an early slow-speed fall at Turn 11 for Brad disrupted the session. The South African pushed in the final minutes to register a ‘flyer’ but missed out
Regaining ground was the theme of the Sprint and Brad was part of the main large pack and a few positions behind his teammate. Brad was 12th at the end of the race, but working on set-up and information for the main GP distance race.
The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas gets underway at 14.00 local time (21.00 CEST) Sunday and will run for 20 laps. Moto3 is the first race of the day at 18.00 CEST and then Moto2 at 19.15.
Brad Binder
“A tough Saturday. The big issue this morning was that when I crashed I had one bike set up in one direction and one bike in another. I had to qualify on the one that I didn’t want and with a mix of used and new tires. I messed up the qualifying and it made the whole day difficult. Starting from 17th was not ideal but I had a good one and it took me a while to work out the setting I had on the bike and how I could push. Now I understand our potential and I think in the race tomorrow I can give it a bit more of a push in the first laps.”
Published by: https://bradbinder33.com
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