08.05.2016
5th Rd. Moto3 2016 – Le Mans (FRA)
Red Bull KTM Ajo rider and Moto3 championship leader Brad Binder of South Africa put in a stunning final lap charge on the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans to take the small class win at the GP of France on Sunday. It was Binder’s second consecutive win after his dramatic career first victory two weeks ago in Jerez, where he rode from last place on the grid to finish first, something that is rarely seen in the sport.
Italian KTM rider Romano Fenati (Sky Racing Team VR46) was the race leader for most of the 24 laps but succumbed to
Brad Binder’s attack in turn eleven of the final lap and had to settle for second. Spanish rider Jorge Navarro, also a major player, especially in the second half of the race, took the podium third. Binder now has a handy 24-point lead in the championship points after the fifth round of the competition.
The South African was strong all weekend on the French circuit. He started second on the grid behind pole sitter Nicolo Antonelli and was never out of the top group throughout the race. Fenati assumed control of the lead after the opening laps and remained a threat throughout the race.
By the halfway point of the race, the competition had developed into a four-way battle, which included rookie Aron Canet of Spain, who went on to take fourth place. These four riders had distanced themselves from the rest of the pack by some seven seconds by the time they took the checkered flag.
It was a good day for riders of the
KTM RC250 GP machine who took six of the top ten places.
Nicolo Bulega of Italy was fifth despite a massive crash in Saturday’s qualifying. French rider
Fabio Quartararo was sixth,
Andrea Migno of Italy was seventh and tenth place went to
Andrea Locatelli.
Binder:
“Half way through the race I tried to get away a little bit. I saw I was able to do two or three laps quicker but it wasn’t enough to break away so I decided to watch the guys and see where I was strong. In the end I saw that no one could pass me on the brakes. I’m really happy with the second win and its good for the championship.”Fenati was also satisfied with his ride saying:
“I am happy because the feeling's come back from Jerez. Second place is important for the championship.”Binder’s rookie teammate in the Red Bull KTM Ajo Team,
Bo Bendsneyder of the Netherlands, had a solid race to finish 16th.
Next Race: May 22, 2016 – Autodromo del Mugello (ITA) Results Moto3 Le Mans 20161. Brad Binder (RSA), KTM, 41:31.041 min (24 laps)2. Romano Fenati (ITA), KTM, +0.099 sec3. Jorge Navarro (ESP), Honda, +0.387
4. Aron Canet (ESP), Honda, +1.354
5. Nicolo Bulega (ITA), KTM, +7.147Other KTM6. Fabio Quartararo (FRA), KTM, +7.616
7. Andrea Migno (ITA), KTM, +8.016
10. Andrea Locatelli (ITA), KTM, +9.926
13. Juanfran Guevara (ESP), KTM, +13.511
16. Bo Bendsneyder (NED), KTM, +20.91521. Maria Herrera (ESP), KTM, +38.986
25. Joan Mir (ESP), KTM, +1:05.491 min
DNF Gabriel Rodrigo (ARG), KTM, 1 lap
DNF Enzo Boulom (FRA), KTM, 8 laps
DNF Philipp Oettl (GER), KTM, 21 laps
Standings Moto3 2016 after 5 of 18 rounds1. Binder, 102 points2. Navarro, 78
3. Fenati, 674. Bulega, 475. Niccolo Antonelli (ITA), Honda, 39
Other KTM8. Locatelli, 30
11. Oettl, 27
12. Mir, 25
15. Quartararo, 19
17. Migno, 15
18. Guevara, 15
23. Rodrigo, 3
24. Herrera, 2
25. Bendsneyder, 2www.motogp.comwww.ktm.com |
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