Brad Binder had to retire from a sensational 23-lap spectacle around the slick Barcelona racetrack today.
Catalunya represented the second Grand Prix on Spanish asphalt in 2023 and although the flowing and greasy surface of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosted MotoGP slightly later than the traditional June date, the temperatures remained high, the fans packed the stands and the world championship kept fast at the 355kmph mark.
Brad started from 9th on the start grid and with useful data accumulated from the Saturday Sprint where his solid 4th place finish was the highlight. The South African made the brighter getaway on Sunday afternoon and in breezy conditions as Miller avoided the first turn mess that blighted his Sprint efforts 24 hours earlier. However, he was unable to dodge the fallen Francesco Bagnaia out of Turn 2 that caused him to crash. The melee provoked an immediate red flag and a restart for a 23-lap run.
The RC16s were holding 6th and 7th in the restarted race until Brad had to stop due a mechanical glitch after three laps.
Brad stays 4th in the championship with a 23-point gap to 3rd, as the series now shuttles straight to Italy and the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli for the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini next weekend.
Brad Binder, DNF:
“A crazy afternoon. I had a really good launch but through the exit of Turn 2 I did not see a thing until I arrived to Pecco and his bike in the middle of the track. I clipped something on his bike, went to miss him and couldn’t. I ended up falling. Thank goodness I saw him moving, so I hope he is fine. We restarted the race, and I brought the last tire we had up to temperature but then we had a technical issue. My only priority today is that I did not seriously hurt anybody. As for the result; it is what it is.”
Published by: https://bradbinder33.com
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