Portuguese rider finishes third in the Czech Grand Prix, the first podium in the wet for the KTM Moto2 project. Brad Binder is twelfth in a race shortened to 6 laps.

The Moto2 Czech Grand Prix was divided into two parts, the first dry and a final six laps in wet. Miguel Oliveira showed what had already been apparent in practice, that he felt comfortable in all kinds of conditions. The Portuguese took third position, for his fifth podium of the year and a first in the rain. His Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate finished twelfth, taking more points for his tally in his rookie season in the class.

The first part of the Moto2 race took place in the dry. Oliveira and Binder made a great start, but on the eighth lap, when they were up in second and sixth position, respectively, Race Direction brought out the red flag due to rain. Upon the restart, in a six-lap sprint, Oliveira again got off the line well, although two riders risked more in the first half-lap and escaped. The Portuguese improved his pace lap after lap to cross the finish line in third position.

Binder also enjoyed a good first lap, but a collision with a rival later on relegated him to eleventh place. Immersed in a group of six riders in the fight for eighth position, Binder finished twelfth.

With this second consecutive podium, Miguel Oliveira is fourth in the overall standings, level with the third placed rider with 133 points. Brad Binder is seventeenth with 29 points. The next race will be the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring next weekend.

Results (Race)
1. Thomas Luthi (Kalex) 13:39.036
2. Alex Marquez (Kalex) +4.991
3. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +6.983
4. Luca Marini (Kalex) +9.190
5. Xavi Vierge (Tech 3) +11.064
12. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +20.547

Moto2 World Championship Standing 2017
1. Franco Morbidelli (Kalex) 182 points
2. Thomas Luthi (Kalex) 165 points
3. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 133 points
4. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 133 points
5. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 87 points
17. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 29 points

 

41 BRAD BINDER
“Honestly, in the dry race I felt really good. I knew that if I could keep with the riders at the front during the first five laps I could start to go faster, because with a full tank it was much more difficult. When I latched onto the lead group again I was confident, but then it started to rain and they stopped the race. It was a little disappointing because I had the leader right in front of me. I was only 1 tenth off the fastest lap of the race.
I have worked very hard this weekend and twelfth position is not enough for me. The good part is that in the second race I felt good in the rain at first, although contact with another rider made me lose time and go wide. I kept pushing, but I didn’t do it in the right places. The positive thing is that I learned how to handle a Moto2 bike in rainy conditions, because without a doubt I had made many mistakes earlier this season. I am happy; these are not the results that I expected but we will continue working. I think overall it’s been a very good weekend, the best since I’ve been in Moto2. I’m sure we can find a way to get to the front.”

44 MIGUEL OLIVEIRA
“It was a very difficult race. We were lucky that it was short, because at the end it was very tricky when the rain fell again.
In any case, I was able to make a good start, although in just half a lap, Luthi and Marquez pushed hard and I lost contact with them. I was also fighting with the riders behind and I think I lost a little time with that. Later I was able to cut the gap, but I needed a few more laps. It was a very difficult race, I couldn’t do any better than third. I am pleased that we were able to improve in these wet conditions because we were not able to do so in some of the previous races. I’m very happy.”

AKI AJO – TEAM MANAGER
“It has been a very good weekend for us in Moto2. Our riders have had a good performance in both dry and wet conditions. Unfortunately Brad [Binder] didn’t feel comfortable in the second race. But for me it has also been a good weekend for him. For Miguel [Oliveira] it has been a very positive weekend, especially with his podium, but also because he managed to be up there in every session. In my opinion, one of the most important things that we take from this GP is that we were strong in wet conditions, when we had not been previously. So we have taken a new step forward.”