Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider takes an important step forward in FP2 to complete the day in seventh place.

In spite of a difficult FP1, on Friday Darryn Binder and his team showed that they have arrived at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit ready for action. The South African, who previously established a base setup for the track in a test there at the end of May, clocked the seventh fastest time of the day -just 2 tenths off the fastest rider.

Adjusting further to the new asphalt and modified Turn 13, Binder and many other riders found the morning session tricky. Several crashed and, whilst the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider was able to stay upright, he was unable to climb his way up the timesheets. Making two stops in the garage and putting on new tyres for his third stint, he would take 27th place with a 1:51.862 time.

From the start of FP2, with track temperatures higher, Binder improved his times. On his very first lap, he took almost a second off his previous best. The contrast between the sessions was so remarkable that each of the three laps he put in to kick off the session was faster than in the morning. However, it was on his third stint that he went round in the 1:49s for the first time, clocking a best lap of 1:49.244.

The seventh qualifying session of the season takes place at 12:35pm tomorrow. The objective for Darryn Binder is to achieve a positive grid position, so as not to have to take excessive risks early on in the race.

Results (Combined practice times FP1-FP2)
1. Marco Bezzecchi (KTM) 1:49.005
2. Jakub Kornfeil (KTM) +0.055
3. Philipp Oettl (KTM) +0.067
4. Niccolo Antonelli (Honda) +0.117
5. Jorge Martin (Honda) +0.217
7. Darryn Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.239

40 DARRYN BINDER
“We didn’t have the same feeling in FP1 as we did during the test we had here, and I found it hard to feel comfortable on the bike. I had the feeling that there was little grip; many riders crashed during the session.

In contrast, in FP2 I pushed right from the beginning and I felt good. Each time we went into the pits we made some adjustments to the bike that allowed me to go faster and faster; in the end we were two tenths off, which is very close to the fastest rider. I had more confidence and the temperature rose. If we can improve the stability of the bike on corner entry tomorrow, I think we can further reduce the gap to the top.”