Red Bull KTM Ajo rider claims second place at a Catalan Grand Prix marked by the tragic death of Luis Salom. Bo Bendsneyder places eleventh, getting back amongst the points.

A very difficult weekend for the Red Bull KTM Ajo team and the entire MotoGP paddock concluded on Sunday at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit. The world of motorsport had been rocked by the tragic death of the team’s former rider Luis Salom on Friday, but the decision was made to continue with the race in his honour. The seventh Moto3 contest of the year finished with an emotional second position for Brad Binder, and Bo Bendsneyder took his best result so far this season with eleventh place.

A good start allowed Brad Binder to maintain the lead, but there was the typical cluster of Moto3 riders at the front on the opening laps. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider was able to keep up with the group and led for much of the way, before contact with another rider left him down in eighth with 4 laps remaining. However, the South African gritted his teeth and fought his way back through the pack, crossing the finish line in second position.

Teammate Bo Bendsneyder also enjoyed a good race. The Dutchman took the best result of his rookie season so far, with an eleventh place finish that saw him just 0.030s off the Top 10.

With his second place at the Catalan GP, Binder extends his run of consecutive podiums to seven and remains the Moto3 World Championship leader with 147 points. He is 44 points clear of his nearest rival. Bendsneyder rises to 23rd in the standings with 7 points to his name

Results (Race)
1. Jorge Navarro (Honda) 42:18.228
2. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.564
3. Enea Bastianini (Honda) +0.817
4. Romano Fenati (KTM) +0.925
5. Nicolo Bulega (KTM) +1.531
11. Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +14.840

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2016
1. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 147 points
2. Jorge Navarro (Honda) 103 points
3. Romano Fenati (KTM) 80 points
4. Nicolo Bulega (KTM) 66 points
5. Francesco Bagnaia (Mahindra) 54 points
23. Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 7 points

Aki Ajo – Team Manager
“This weekend has been very difficult for the whole team and the whole MotoGP family. All that we can do is offer our most heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Luis Salom. As for today’s race, it is difficult to analyse anything in depth on a weekend like this, but I have to say that our riders focused well and did a very good job, despite it being such a tough day. I really appreciate it.”

41 BRAD BINDER
“The important thing today was not the result, but paying tribute to Luis [Salom]. It has been a hard weekend for me and the whole team. We took another podium, which is very valuable after being down in eighth with four laps remaining. I was able to fight back and set my best times on the last two laps, allowing me to keep adding points to my tally and claim a seventh podium. If I had not made contact with another rider, then I think I could have been up there fighting for the win, but that’s the way it went. It is not a time for celebrations today.”

64 BO BENDSNEYDER
“After what happened on Friday in Moto2, this Grand Prix means little to me. We rode only in order to dedicate the race to Luis [Salom] and his family at this difficult time. Sporting-wise, it was a good race, we did a good job and it was important to get back amongst the points.”