Brad Binder finishes twelfth at Dutch GP, with Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate Bo Bendsneyder achieving his best result of the season with ninth at home race.

Moto3 World Championship leader Brad Binder ended the Dutch GP with his advantage in the lower cylinder class increased further, despite a run-off leaving him in twelfth place in the race. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider added 4 points to his overall tally, helped in part by the absence of his closest rival from the event. Teammate Bo Bendsneyder finished his home Grand Prix with his the best result of the year, placing ninth.

A large leading group contested the top spots from the start at Assen, with Binder always amongst them. The South African was inside the Top 4 until a mistake with seven laps remaining saw him run off track. Rejoining the race in 13th, he gained one place before the chequered flag.

In the same leading group was teammate Bendsneyder. Starting from seventh, the Dutchman battled constantly for a spot in the Top 10. It was his first home race in Moto3, and he was able to please the fans with a ninth place finish –just 1 second behind the winning rider.

Brad Binder leads the Moto3 standings with 151 points after 8 rounds, and holds a 48-point advantage over his closest rival. Bo Bendsneyder lies twenty-first with 14 points. The next round for the Moto3 riders is the German GP, held at Sachsenring on July 17th.

Aki Ajo – Team Manager

“The last race [Catalan GP] was excellent for Brad [Binder], but it is normal that there are also races that aren’t so good. Each weekend we try to learn from our mistakes and solve our problems. Luckily, today he saved a crash, rejoined the race and was able to pick up some important points for the World Championship. We have to be happy and learn from what happened this weekend.

I am also happy because Bo [Bendsneyder] took a good step forward. It is nice for him to do that at his home race. It isn’t easy to ride in front of your home fans, and he did a very good job. It was excellent for him.”

Race – Results
1. Francesco Bagnaia (Mahindra), 38:11.535
2. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Honda) +0.039
3. Andrea Migno (KTM) +0.018
4. Romano Fenati (KTM) +0.084
5. Niccolo Antonelli (Honda) +0.136
9. Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +1.023
12. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +12.169

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2016
1. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 151 points
2. Jorge Navarro (Honda) 103 points
3. Romano Fenati (KTM) 93 points
4. Francesco Bagnaia (Mahindra) 79 points
5. Nicolo Bulega (KTM) 75 points
21. Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 14 points

41 BRAD BINDER

“At the beginning of the race everything went according to the plan we had devised, but then I went up the inside next to another rider and I run wide. I wanted to recover, but I opened the throttle too early and almost crashed. I had to go through the grass –I almost went into pitlane but a cameraman signalled to me with his arm and I stayed out, which was lucky. Overall things have gone well; it had been a long time for me without making a serious mistake, but these things happen.Unfortunately it happened to me today, when I felt strong and was confident of trying to win the race. I know we’ll be fresh again when we get to Germany. The positive thing about today is that we increased the advantage over the second placed rider, so it’s not been a write-off of a race. Today’s result is better than zero points.”

64 BO BENDSNEYDER

“It was a difficult race. I was fighting in the front group throughout the race and in the end I finished ninth. Although it is my best result in the World Championship, I still wanted more. Seeing all the fans and my friends here is very nice, this Top 10 finish is dedicated to them. I’m a little disappointed because we crossed the line 1 second behind the race winner, and I think we could have been closer, but I had initially said I wanted to be in the Top 10 and I finished ninth. I have to fight more; being in the front group helps you to learn how to fight and I think I leave here with a lesson learned.”