Red Bull KTM Ajo rider ends Friday with fourth fastest time. Bo Bendsneyder places twelfth on debut appearance at Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo.

After the opening round in Qatar two weeks ago, the Moto3 World Championship has crossed the Atlantic for this weekend’s Argentinian GP. Day 1 was not an easy one for the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders, who had to contend with first a dusty track and then high temperatures in the two Free Practice sessions held on Friday. Binder was the fourth fastest rider of the day, with rookie teammate Bo Bendsneyder twelfth.

The first session was a tough one for the Moto3 field, who got things underway in Argentina on a dusty asphalt surface with little grip. This did not prevent Binder from placing in the top three throughout the 40 minute session, however. A time of 1:53.072 on his final lap placed him third in FP1. Just as remarkable was the ninth place for Bendsneyder -whose 1:53.775 lap showed he has an immediate affinity with the track.

With the asphalt in better condition, but with high temperatures of around 51ºC, the riders only needed a few laps in the afternoon to better their previous times. Bendsneyder went out behind his teammate to learn the best lines for the circuit -a learning process that paid off with him finishing twelfth and setting a time of 1:51.650. Meanwhile, Binder again showed great pace and, with a 1:51.350 lap, was only two tenths off the fastest rider.

Tomorrow the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders will seek a good grid position that for the Argentinian GP. The Finnish team have taken both Moto3 pole positions available at the track, through Jack Miller (2014) and Miguel Oliveira (2015).

Results (Combined practice time FP1-FP2)
1. Enea Bastianini (Honda) 1:51.137
2. Romano Fenati (KTM) 1:51.242 +0.105
3. Andrea Migno (KTM) 1:51.303 +0.166
4. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:51.350 +0.213
5. Jorge Navarro (Honda) 1:51.411 +0.274
12. Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:51.650 +0.513

41 BRAD BINDER

“This first day of the Argentina GP hasn’t gone badly. I felt very comfortable riding in the FP1, despite the condition of the track. In the afternoon practice we tested the race tyres and the feeling was not the same. With the grip level then, we did not feel comfortable, so we must work on that tomorrow and try to solve the issue. Working as we know how, we will find a good pace for the race on Sunday.”

64 BO BENDSNEYDER

“This first day went well. The truth is that this is a circuit I like; it’s very fast and with some very impressive corners. I’m happy to be here because it is unlike any other circuit. On the first stint we aimed to learn the lines, and in the second FP we went out to improve the times. We put a new tyre on for the last stint but it did not go as expected. The goal today was to find a good line and that’s the most important thing. Tomorrow we will continue working to improve our setup, but we shall see what the weather is like.”