The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider was unable to find an optimal feeling at Jerez on Friday.

The start to the first European event of the season did not go as expected for Darryn Binder, who experienced difficulties in the first two Free Practice sessions for the Red Bull Grand Prix of Spain resisted him. At the newly renamed Jerez-Angel Nieto Circuit, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider did not find the right mix to be up amongst the frontrunners and had to settle for twenty-seventh position on the combined timesheet, thanks to his time from FP1.

The open Moto3 session saw track temperatures of 18ºC, and things were tricky early on for Binder. His feeling with the bike changed after his only stop in the pits, and on his second stint he quickly broke into the Top 15. At the end of the first 40 minutes, his best time of 1:48.695 placed him twenty-second.

In FP2 the track temperature had risen to 41ºC, with conditions seemingly more favourable for the riders. Unfortunately for Binder, he was unable to improve on his morning lap time, never feeling comfortable in the session. The South African made three runs, the first two with used tyres. His best times were set on the third stint, although they were not fast enough to put him among the fastest riders. His 1:48.813 was the twenty-seventh best of the afternoon.

Tomorrow Binder will try to improve his feeling in FP3 and lower his lap times, in order to be best prepared for qualifying at 12:35pm local time. Last year he was tenth on the grid for the Red Bull GP of Spain.

Results (Combined practice times FP1-FP2)
1. Niccolo Antonelli (Honda) 1:46:630
2. Jorge Martin (Honda) 1:47.074 +0.444
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Honda) 1:47.159 +0.529
4. Enea Bastianini (Honda) 1:47.165 +0.535
5. Aron Canet (Honda) 1:47.224 +0.594
27. Darryn Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:48.695 +2.065

40 DARRYN BINDER

“The truth is that today was not our best day. We struggled on the bike and never felt comfortable. These are not the same feelings that we had in preseason, but neither do they allow us to go fast. We have to find the perfect combination between my riding and the bike.
After FP2 we have sat down with the team to analyse where we are at, and I think we have already found some solutions. I am convinced that we will find the way. I will try to be positive for tomorrow, I’ll be ready and I’ll work hard again. We hope to find that missing switch that allows us to make a leap up the timesheets.”