Binder pads fierce Thai speed with runner-up finish in Saturday MotoGP™ Sprint

MotoGP 2023 - Round 17 of 20, Chang International Circuit, Thailand – Qualification and Sprint


Brad Binder qualifies 5th and just two tenths from Pole Position. He blasts to his sixth Sprint podium appearance of the season with P2 and less than one second from the winner
Jack Miller classifies 10th after going into Q1 and starting from 15th on the grid
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Pedro Acosta has his first opportunity to win the 2023 Moto2™ world title on Sunday and the Spaniard starts from 2nd on the grid. Moto3™ teammate Deniz Öncü breaks the lap record with his KTM RC4 for Pole

 
Red Bull KTM came to Thailand with positive memories of a wet weather victory last year and were encouraged after the improved performance experienced by the team in the wind-hit Australian round the previous weekend. Buriram promised vastly different circumstances for the third Grand Prix in a row with 30+degrees temperatures, roasting asphalt and hard braking and acceleration on the menu compared to the free-flowing layout in Phillip Island.
 
On a sunny Friday both Binder and Miller found lap-times to head into direct Q2 contention during the Practice session during the afternoon. In the final minutes the flying attempts hit the screens and the pair classified 9th and 13th respectively. Just half a second divided the first 18 riders! While Miller was fractionally distant from the mark in Q1 (meaning 15th on the start grid) Binder was vying for a front row slot until the final minute and the last barrage of flying attempts. He finished Q2 in 5th.
 
Saturday dawned hot but with more clouds and the possibility of a brief shower. The MotoGP Sprint lasted for 13 laps. Binder, who qualified on the fourth row in 2022 for what was his first time here in the MotoGP class, had a view of the track from the second line on this occasion. He seared into the top four and then had to fight for most of the race distance to pass Luca Marini for 2nd place. Once through he tried to close the gap to Jorge Martin and narrowed the margin to just under a second at the finish line. The result marked the fourth time that Brad as taken P2 in MotoGP Sprints this season and he is the third most successful rider on Grand Prix Saturdays thus far.


 
Miller formed part of some hectic battles further down the field and managed to defeat Fabio Quartararo to make the top ten, while being the only rider to experiment with the harder front tire compound. European fans will have to set the alarm clocks (aware of the daylight saving time!) for 09.00 CEST to catch the full 26 laps on Sunday.
 
Brad Binder, 5th in qualification, 2nd in the Sprint: “The plan was not to come 2nd but to win today but we’ll take it. In the beginning I really struggled to get past Luca and once I’d made it I’d already used the best of my tires. It was a tricky one but my team did a fantastic job and made a good step for me this weekend; we just need that last little bit and we can do something better.”
 
Jack Miller, 15th in qualification, 10th in the Sprint: “Not bad, not great. We tried our maximum but where we were starting from made things a bit complicated. We were able to fight back through. 10th is not what we want but I feel that our pace is not that bad for tomorrow. We were the only ones on the hard tire so that might benefit us. We have some good data now and that will help for tomorrow,”
 
Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Another good weekend so far. Brad went to Q2 directly yesterday and this is becoming the norm now, which is positive. Jack went into Q1 and it is always a bit tricky. He didn’t get the right moment or the right lap. The Sprint was fantastic for Brad and he deserved another podium after a long fight. Another medal and good preparation for tomorrow’s race. Jack struggled a bit on the first lap and was a few seconds behind the leaders. He had good pace compared to what he had in practice so that was another step. We’re looking forward to tomorrow’s race.”
 
Grand Prix of Thailand photographs can be found HERE
 
Results Qualifying MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix
 
1. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati 1:29.287
2. Luca Marini (ITA) Ducati +0.138
3. Aleix Espargaro (ESP) Aprilia +0.174
5. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +0.209
15. Jack Miller (AUS) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:30.096 (Q1)
 
Results MotoGP Sprint Thailand Grand Prix
 
1. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati 19:41.593
2. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +0.933
3. Luca Marini (ITA) Ducati +1.841
10. Jack Miller (AUS) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +9.240



 
KTM GP Academy
 
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Deniz Öncü and Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Daniel Holgado were once more among the tightly-matched group chasing Pole Position in Moto3. The Turk notched a lap during practice that made him the fastest Moto3 rider ever around the course. He extended that speed through Q2 for his third Pole Position of the season.
 
The Chang International Circuit pushed the pack close together thanks to the simplistic and flat layout and three lengthy straights that emphasized the need to an effective tow. Holgado was less than half a second from his brandmate and sits 11th on the grid and on the fourth row. Buriram was another episode of discovery for rookies Jose Rueda and Filippo Farioli. The Spaniard was quick and made the 9th best time. The Italian was 24th.
 
Deniz Öncü: “We did a great job as a team. We have been fast all the way through the weekend but the race tomorrow will be fun because there will be a lot of laps and a lot to do.”



 
Moto2 was set up for Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Pedro Acosta to grasp the world championship. The Spaniard needs to win for the eighth time and for title rival Tony Arbolino to finish no higher than 10th on Sunday (or Pedro classifies 2nd and Arbolino no better than 15th). Acosta started in menacing form on Friday with P1 in every session. During Saturday he held provisional pole but was pipped to P1 in the final minute and accepted 2nd place with just 0.17 of a second the split. The standing represented his tenth front row of the year. Red Bull KTM Ajo’s position at the top of the Teams championship could be consolidated with backing by Albert Arenas; the Spaniard qualified 2nd for the 22-lap race for his first appearance on the front row.
 
Pedro Acosta: “Let’s see for tomorrow. We were expecting to be first in the quali but, anyway, the race will be so, so long. We are ready to fight.”
 
Albert Arenas: “It has been a couple of tough races. Head down; I never gave up and kept working. The pace was there this weekend and it was a matter of consistency and confidence. It’s good to be fast already today.”
 
Results Qualifying Moto3 Thailand Grand Prix
 
1. Deniz Öncü (TUR), Red Bull KTM Ajo 1:42.061
2. Diogo Moreira (BRA) KTM +0.057
3. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN) Husqvarna +0.058
9. Jose Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.462
11. Daniel Holgado (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +0.480
24. Filippo Farioli (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3 1:43.905 (Q1)
 
Results Qualifying Moto2 Thailand Grand Prix
 
1. Fermin Aldeguer (ESP) 1:35.371
2. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.177
3. Albert Arenas (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +0.319
 
PRESS CONTACT
 
Sarah Kinrade
PR Specialist MotoGP
M: +43 676 7654200
E: Sarah.Kinrade@ktm.com