Difficult qualifying session for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 rider, who despite improving his laptime could not place higher than 26th.

The second day of the Aragon GP did not go as Darryn Binder had hoped. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider still could not find a good feeling on his bike, although he would clock what was by far his best time of the weekend so far in the qualifying session. Binder achieved 26th position in the afternoon shootout, which means he will start tomorrow from the middle of the ninth row.

In track conditions similar to those experienced yesterday morning, Binder ran the last 40 minutes of Free Practice on used tyres. This helped him to work on his race pace and adjust the front setup of his KTM machine. However, the results were not as expected, and he could not lower his times from Friday. He placed 26th with a 2:00.751.

In the afternoon, with higher track temperatures of 42ºC, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider broke into the 1:59s for the first time on his opening stint. The South African was able to do likewise on his only lap of his third outing, setting his best time of the weekend: 1:59.052. However, this time earned him 26th position.

Binder will attempt to replicate his fightback from the San Marino GP when the 25-lap Moto3 contest gets underway tomorrow at 11am local time, with a place in the points his target.

Results (Qualifying session)
1. Jorge Martin (Honda) 1:57.066
2. Jaume Masia (KTM) 1:57.603 +0.537
3. Enea Bastianini (Honda) 1:57.659 +0.593
4. Tony Arbolino (Honda) 1:57.774 +0.708
5. Dennis Foggia (KTM) 1:57.791 +0.725
26. Darryn Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:59.052 +1.986

40 DARRYN BINDER

“I’ve had a lot of problems all weekend, so setting a quick lap in qualifying was not easy. I still haven’t felt comfortable in any of the sessions and that has not allowed me to be fast. In qualifying we took a step forward; I was faster but it was not enough, since everyone else also lowered their times. The timesheets are very tight, except for the poleman, so a few tenths would have allowed us to be much higher up the order.
Tomorrow, it obviously will not be easy; I will have to be very focused in order to be able to gain positions in a race that I hope will be run in a group. The goal will be to finish within the points.”