Darryn Binder debuts with Red Bull KTM Ajo
07/02/2018South African rider is finally able to get on the Red Bull KTM Ajo bike, for the second day of the official test in Valencia.
An injury to his left hand in November and rain yesterday had postponed Darryn Binder’s debut with Red Bull KTM Ajo, but on Wednesday he was finally able to get out on track. The second day of the official Moto2 and Moto3 test this week in Valencia, Spain, saw the South African decked out in the colours of his new team and putting in his first kilometres onboard the KTM with which he will ride in the World Championship.
Binder would only put in 27 laps of the Spanish track this Wednesday and would not emerge from the garage until the final 8 minutes of the second session. The wet track and low temperatures prevented him from going out earlier. Thus, the South African only enjoyed just over an hour of testing. It was in the final session that Binder achieved his best time of 1:41.997, which placed him eighteenth in the timesheet for the day.
Tomorrow the new Red Bull KTM Ajo rider with the number 40 hopes to continue gaining experience with his bike, on the third and final day of the test at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit.
Combined Standings Day 1-2
1. Gabriel Rodrigo (KTM) 1:40.324
2. Jorge Martin (Honda) 1:40.333 +0.009
3. Marco Bezzecchi (KTM) 1:40.432 +0.108
4. Niccolo Antonelli (Honda) 1:40.492 +0.168
5. Enea Bastianini (Honda) 1:40.557 +0.233
18. Darryn Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:41.997 +1.673
#40 Darryn Binder
“It was a good first day. Unfortunately, yesterday rain did not allow us to ride and today the track stayed wet until noon. We could almost say that we have only taken advantage of the last session. We have not been able to go as fast as we would have liked, but it has been good to be able to put in some laps again, since I haven’t been able to since the Valencia GP. The track conditions were good, although I felt a bit strange riding, and we were enjoying ourselves again and starting to work a bit on the setup. Tomorrow we will try to continue progressing.”