Red Bull KTM Ajo rider is new leader in Moto3 after finishing third in tricky conditions. Bo Bendsneyder completes the race twenty-second.

Brad Binder took a second consecutive podium from as many races in the 2016 season, with third place in Argentina. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider was able to tackle a tricky damp track at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, claiming third place on the rostrum on the final lap. Teammate Bo Bendsneyder recovered four positions to cross the finish line twenty-second at the Argentinian GP.

After two hot days in Argentina, Sunday morning saw rainfall that complicated matters for the Moto3 World Championship field. Despite the race being declared wet, most riders went out on slicks -as was the case with the Red Bull KTM Ajo pair. From the early stages, Brad Binder was part of a first large group the fight for fourth place, but was always at the head of the pack. Late on, a crash from another rider on the final lap allowed him to complete the contest in third.

Bo Bendsneyder did not have easy race, starting from the ninth row of the grid. On his first ever race in Argentina, the rookie was part of a group battling for nineteenth. After tussling much more experienced competitors such as Romano Fenati and Enea Bastianini, Bendsneyder finished the 21-lap race in twenty-second position.

Binder’s third place today, added to his second place in Qatar at the season opener, give the South African the lead in the overall standings with 36 points. Bendsneyder is 21st, with two points. The next race for the Moto3 World Championship will be held next week at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin (United States).

Results (Race)
1. Khairul Idham Pawi (Honda) 41:35.452
2. Jorge Navarro (Honda) +26.170
3. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +30.060
4. Andrea Locatelli (KTM) +30.339
5. Joan Mir (KTM) +30.506
22. Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +1:12.522

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2016
1. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 36 points
2. Niccolo Antonelli (Honda) 31 points
3. Jorge Navarro (Honda) 29 points
4. Khairul Idham Pawi (Honda) 25 points
5. Francesco Bagnaia (Mahindra) 16 points
21. Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2 points

Aki Ajo – Team Manager
“Once again, the track conditions were very difficult today; they were tough to deal with during the entire weekend, because the surface was dirty and has hampered the work of the riders and teams. Brad [Binder] has shown this weekend that he is the rider with the best pace in Moto3, but the rain this morning changed everything. However, in the warmup he went well too, and I am very proud of how he handled the race. He has proven to be very mature, riding with calm and knowing how to handle the risks. In the end, with a little luck, he finished third and claimed another podium, although I would have been happy with a place in the Top 6 with the way the race was set up. The whole team can be very happy, because everyone has done a great job and has helped Brad to perform like this. For Bo [Bendsneyder] this has been another great experience. At the start he was a little more cautious due to the difficult track conditions, and I understand that. He finished the race for the second time in two Grands Prix, and that is another step forward for him. We have to continue working, race after race.”

41 BRAD BINDER

“Before starting the race I talked to Aki [Ajo] and he told me that whatever I did, I should not throw away points. At first it was difficult, but I was very careful. As the laps went by I tried to push a bit more, although there were some times when it was tough with the bumps that this track has. Later I tried to keep on the dry racing line and decided to settle for fourth. I stayed focused and kept looking to get the clean line. On the last lap a crash from another rider put me onto a podium that I was not expecting to feature on today. We have taken the lead in the World Championship, which doesn’t really have much importance after two races, but it means the whole team are doing a good job. We hope to continue in the same way in Austin.”

64 BO BENDSNEYDER

“The race was tough because the conditions were very difficult. The asphalt was in mixed conditions and there were both wet and dry patches. After talking with the team we put slicks on the bike, like most of the grid. On the first few laps it was hard riding through the wet parts of the track, but by the end I had found my pace and was able to fight against fast riders like Fenati and Bastianini. I learned a lot from that. I’ll take everything that I have learned here and try to use it for the next race; I can’t wait to get to Texas.”