04.09.2016
12th Rd. Moto3 2016 – Silverstone Circuit (GBR)
Red Bull KTM Ajo celebrated a big day out for the team at the Moto3 Grand Prix of Britain with championship leader Brad Binder topping the podium and teammate Bo Bendsneyder picking up a career-first podium in third. Between the two KTM factory riders was Italian Francesco Bagnaia in second place.
Brad Binder leaves the British circuit with four Moto3 race wins this season and an impressive 86-point lead in the chase for the title, while second placed rival Jorge Navarro crashed out in the penultimate lap. There are still six rounds remaining in the championship so still 150 points up for grabs.
The race delivered some of the most exciting of the season on the huge, sweeping Silverstone circuit some 5.9km long and over 18 corners, but the unpredictable weather that disrupted free practice and qualifying the previous two days stayed away.
The South African started from fourth place on the grid, but it was his young Dutch teammate who was faster in qualifying.
Bo Bendsneyder was third in qualifying but was pushed back five start places for a ‘riding slow’ penalty during the previous days.
Binder was a major player at the front of a very tight group from lap 4 of the 17-lap race, but he had plenty of challengers as the race lead drifted back and forth between 4-5 different riders. By lap ten, less than two seconds separated the first 12 and it had evolved into a race too difficult to call. It was anyone’s to win right up to the final lap.
Bendsneyder, eighth at the start, moved quickly into sixth and was a solid member of the lead group throughout the race. He began to look like a podium contender as early as the 14th lap, and by the penultimate round he was tucked behind his teammate in second place. He even briefly led the race in the first half of the final lap, creating an ideal situation for his team colleague to go for the win in the final stages.
When asked if he was confident going into turn seven that he could take the win,
Binder replied:
“It was crazy. I tried it a few laps before and I noticed that every time that I got past the guys, nobody passed me again on the back straight. I knew I needed one bike in front of me and when Benai (Bendsneyder) passed me going into turn two, I still didn’t know if it was going to work out. But thanks so much to my team. The bike was absolutely incredible and I’m so happy to be back on top.”As well as taking his first podium,
Bendsneyder also proved he was an effective and loyal team player, commenting after the race:
“It was great. I gave it all. In the end the tyres dropped and I could go even faster. I passed Brad but I knew he was going for the championship so I wanted to protect him.” Italian
Nicolo Bulega had a strong finish to the race to put his
KTM RC250 GP in fifth and Spanish KTM rider
Joan Mir finished 10th.
Next Race: September 11, 2016 – Misano World Circuit (ITA) Results Moto3 Silverstone Circuit 20161. Brad Binder (RSA), KTM, 38:39.142 min (17 Laps)2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA), Mahindra, +0.183 sec
3. Bo Bendsneyder (NED), KTM, +0.3364. Stefano Manzi (ITA), Mahindra, +0.787
5. Nicolo Bulega (ITA), KTM, +0.802Other KTM10. Joan Mir (ESP), KTM, +1.193
12. Gabriel Rodrigo (ARG), KTM, +2.400
13. Philipp Oettl, (GER), KTM, +8.585
15. Andrea Locatelli (ITA), KTM, +12.839
17. Juanfran Guevara (ESP), KTM, +13.174
19. Lorenzo Dalla Porta (ITA), KTM, +13.326
27. Maria Herrera (ESP), KTM, +39.714
30. Andrea Migno (ITA), KTM, +1:32.740 min
DNF Fabio Quartararo (FRA), KTM, 12 laps
Standings Moto3 2016 after 12 of 18 rounds1. Binder, 204 points2. Jorge Navarro (ESP), Honda, 118
3. Bagnaia, 110
4. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Honda, 102
5. Bulega, 100Other KTM6. Romano Fenati (ITA), KTM, 93
8. Mir, 89
12. Locatelli, 54
13. Bendsneyder, 5214. Quartararo, 52
16. Oettl, 47
19. Migno, 41
22. Guevara, 29
25. Rodrigo, 13
27. Dalla Porta, 7
28. Herrera, 6
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