The recently concluded Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi was a significant event for KTM as they introduced their new RC16 bikes to the track. Brad Binder, the South African rider, was given the opportunity to test this updated bike after test rider Dani Pedrosa’s successful wildcard outing at Misano. With hopes high, Binder quickly showed his potential by setting a new lap record in Friday practice and finishing as Jorge Martin’s nearest challenger in the sprint race on Saturday. However, unfavorable weather conditions on Sunday, coupled with the time lost during bike swaps in MotoGP’s first flag-to-flag race in two years, hindered Binder’s chance of making an impact in the main race, as he unfortunately crashed out at Turn 3.
The Soft Rear Tire Conundrum
During the sprint race battle against Pramac Ducati’s Martin, Binder experienced some difficulties that hindered his performance. He mentioned that his rear tire started to go off after just four laps, making it challenging for him to exit corners as quickly as his rival. Binder admitted that Martin’s ability to effectively turn and pick up his bike was an area he needs to improve upon. While the new RC16 showed some improvements, particularly mid-corner, Binder realized that he still has work to do when it comes to managing tire wear and maintaining competitive pace later in a race.
Autosport questioned Binder about the performance of the KTM in wet conditions after the race. He acknowledged that the bike’s braking and entry were exceptionally good in the rain but admitted to struggling a bit on corner exit. Despite losing time in the pits and pushing too hard in an effort to catch up with the front-runners, Binder still believed there was room for improvement. He expressed confidence in finding further gains with the carbon fiber chassis. However, Binder remained cautious about proclaiming the new RC16 as a bike capable of consistently challenging the benchmark manufacturer Ducati for the championship.
Binder’s performance on the new RC16 is undoubtedly a step in the right direction for KTM. Although he emphasized that the improvements were not massive, he acknowledged the significance of even small advancements. In the highly competitive world of MotoGP, every tenth of a second makes a massive difference. Binder recognized the combination of small improvements that contributed to his overall performance. This glimpse of hope may pave the way for KTM to gradually close the gap and establish itself as a formidable contender in the MotoGP championship.
Binder’s teammate, Jack Miller, also had the opportunity to ride the new RC16 at Motegi. He showcased the bike’s potential by finishing fourth in the sprint race and sixth in the rain-shortened main race. Miller’s performance further solidified the notion that the new RC16 has the capability to deliver competitive results. With both Binder and Miller consistently improving and gathering valuable data on the new bike, KTM can continue fine-tuning their machine to match the level of established manufacturers such as Ducati.
Binder’s performance on the new RC16 at the Japanese Grand Prix has provided KTM with a glimpse of hope. Despite the challenges he faced, Binder’s ability to set a new lap record and challenge frontrunners in the sprint race showcased the potential of KTM’s updated bike. While there is still much work to be done, Binder’s feedback and Miller’s strong showing indicate that KTM is headed in the right direction. With continuous innovation and improvement, KTM may soon become a force to be reckoned with in the MotoGP championship.
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