Brad Binder takes second place in an exciting race finale

06/10/2019

The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider racked up the sixth podium in eight races, while his teammate, Jorge Martin, achieved his best result to date in Moto2, in sixth place.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo wrapped up a great weekend in Thailand with another podium result for Brad Binder, who gained 10 positions in the race and finally finished second after a great move on the last corner of the last lap. The South African rider therefore signed off his sixth podium in eight Grands Prix. Jorge Martin rounded off a fantastic day for the team with his sixth place, his best result in the Moto2 class to date.

Binder made a great start, moving up from 12th on the grid to seventh place at the end of the first lap. The South African produced a very strong pace throughout the race, pushing through the field to reach the group fighting for second place on the podium. After an intense final battle, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider took the second spot, getting the better of a rival on the last corner of the final lap. The result is Binder’s sixth podium in the last eight races and takes him up to third in the championship standings, with 180 points.

In Thailand Jorge Martin had his greatest weekend in the Moto2 category so far. After starting from the third position on the grid, he recorded his best race result of the season, ending in sixth. The current Moto3 World Champion joined the group fighting for the podium in the first half of the contest. As the laps went by the Spaniard lost contact with the pack and rode alone in sixth place, until he reached the finish line. Following the Thailand Grand Prix, Jorge moves up one position to 16th in the overall standings, with 47 points.

The next date on the calendar for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team is the Japanese Grand Prix, which will take place at the Twin Ring Motegi from 18th to 20th October.

 

Results (Moto2 Race)
1. Luca Marini (Kalex) 38:40.882
2. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +2.296
3. Iker Lecuona (KTM) +2.544
4. Augusto Fernandez (Kalex) +2.585
5. Alex Marquez (Kalex) +2.919
6. Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +6.839

Moto2 World Championship Standings 2019
1. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 224 points
2. Augusto Fernandez (Kalex) 184 points
3. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 180 points
4. Thomas Luthi (Kalex) 178 points
5. Jorge Navarro (Speed Up) 175 points
16. Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 47 points

 

Aki Ajo – Team manager

“It’s been a very positive weekend for us in Moto2. I’m really happy with the performance of our two riders. In the practice sessions, Jorge [Martin] was fast and we have to keep in mind that he is still a rookie in the category, although he is now starting to show at every GP that he has the potential to fight for the podium in this category. Brad [Binder] found it a bit harder in practices, but in the race he demonstrated his experience again in the group battle, fighting right until the end for second place. For Jorge, it was a good, solid contest. So we can be satisfied with the start of the Asian rounds, which I hope will be just as successful for us as they have been in previous years.”

41 BRAD BINDER

“I’m very happy with today’s contest. Starting 12th made everything harder for me. In the qualifying I didn’t really feel comfortable, so it was a long night whilst I thought about how to improve for the race. Finally, this morning in the warm up we took the step forward that we needed. I have to thank the team, because in the race I had the best bike of the whole weekend, which is the important thing. I feel very strong for the next Grand Prix.”

88 JORGE MARTIN

“It was a positive weekend overall, with the best results of the year in qualifying and in the race. I lost some ground at the start of the contest, as the bike got really hot and didn’t have much power. I struggled a bit and then I got back on the pace, but it was a pity that by then I was two seconds away from the podium places. I fought hard, I gave it everything and I’m happy with the job we did.”

 

Partners



MotoE