Brad Binder hopes to regain confidence ahead of Aragon MotoGP
Red Bull KTM man has slipped to a lowly 14th place in the premier class world championship.
Brad Binder has twice stood on the top step at Aragon. Picture: Red Bull KTM
Despite returning to a happy hunting ground at the Aragon MotoGP this weekend, that is still no guarantee for Brad Binder to stop the rot he is currently experiencing on his Red Bull KTM RC16.
Binder only managed a solitary championship point in his last four starts and is languishing in 14th place on 34 points in the title race. He is already a mammoth 162 points behind leader Marc Marquez (196) after just seven out of 22 rounds.
The KTM man finished fourth twice in the premier class at the 5.08km layout in Spain, while he also took the chequered flag twice at Aragon in Moto2.
Brad Binder hopes to improve
'I need to regain my confidence and take advantage of the good feelings when they come,' Binder told the PaddockGP website after the last race at Silverstone.
After crashing out twice in France and then in the sprint race at Silverstone, Binder finished 15th in the main race, citing his struggles with the RC16.
'The last thing I want is to not finish four races in a row. And even when I'm driving at my limit, I'm asking myself, 'What am I doing?'
ALSO READ: Brad Binder apologises to Red Bull KTM after double French flop
'A little tricky'
'This is certainly not ideal. Don't get me wrong, I know I'm not supposed to be riding in 15th position. But that's how it is. That's really my level right now,' he continued.
'It's a little tricky. But I must regain confidence. And I'm sure we'll get there.'
The situation in the KTM garage is so dire that it rumoured Binder's team-mate Pedro Acosta, touted as a future premier class champ, has been in talks with various other manufacturers to jump ship. Binder is still contracted until the end of next year.
ALSO READ: Brad Binder: Brilliant on a bike, but 'useless' at braaiing
Darryn good to go
Gresini Moto2 confirmed that Brad Binder's younger brother Darryn Binder will race in Spain. He missed the French and British Grands Prix with an arm injury and has undergone 'three intense weeks of rehabilitation and physiotherapy'.
Teenager Ruché Moodley will eye another points finish in Aragon after making a low-key return at Silverstone. The BOE Motorsport rider was still recovering from a from fractured radius in his right arm he suffered during practice at the Spanish Grand Prix, an incident he also had to serve two long-lap penalties for at Silverstone.
The MotoGP sprint race starts at 3pm on Saturday and the main at 2pm on Sunday. The lights go out fir the Moto3 race at 11am on Sunday, with Moto2 action getting underway at 12.15pm.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Genies & genius released on Court Philippe-Chatrier
Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates another victory Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over Britain's Cameron Norrie during their men's singles match on day 9 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on Monday. | AFP Majors have that magic effect of elevating not only the level of tennis of Top dogs, in their respective quests to win either their first (Alexander Zverev), their fifth (Carlos Alcaraz),or their 25th (Novak Djokovic) title, but also propelling underdogs to perform beyond all expectation. Roland Garros too, has delivered: French Wild card & No 361, Lois Boisson, your proverbial Cinderella, who prior to this event had no clothing sponsor and was on the verge of declining her invitation to the French Open 'ball' on account of a knee injury, yet pumpkins aside, managed to arrive, in the nick of time. She then proceeded to come from a set down, against World No 3, Jessica Pegula, in Round 4 to beat the stunned American, 3-6,6-4,6-4. No fairy godmother hovered above. Instead she had the divine force of a raucous French crowd willing her to win. Her carriage ride continued into the Quarters, where she upset, 6th seeded Russian, Mira Andreeva in straight sets, 7-6(6),6-3, to earn herself a Semis berth. The fact she then suffered a loss to 2nd seed Coco Gauff was insignificant, in the eyes of the French. Boisson has made Tennis history in becoming the first WTA wild card, literally sprinkled in red fairy dust, to reach the Last-Four endearing herself to Paris, sponsors and the world at large. Then in the ATP Draw, we had the hugely talented, yet incorrigible Russian born, Kazakhstani, Alexander Bublik, refusing to take life or tennis too seriously: 'I'm perfectly normal,' he quipped, when asked in a pre match press conference, his laissez faire attitude towards his profession.' It's everyone else who is abnormal-' because they won't go out and relax and have a drink mid must have been a magic potion in that drink, because Bublik, who's never progressed beyond Round 1 at Roland Garros, suddenly slayed Top 10, Alex De Minaur from Two sets down- 2-6, 2-6, 6-4,6-3,6-2 to reach the Last 16, where he followed it up with an even more impressive 5-7,6-3,6-2,6-4, victory over World and five and fast rising, Britain's Jack Draper. "This has been the happiest day of my life.' The emotional Kasakh declared in his post match interview. Sadly World No 1, Jannik Sinner, burst Bublik's euphoric bubble in the Quarters, 6-1,6-2, but the indelible, if erratic genius of the man, who drop shotted Draper into capitulation( 20 odd in total) conjured up undoubtedly the match of the for major contenders, the biggest heavyweight upset, was dished out by none other than three-time former champion and GOAT, Djokovic, to World No 3, Zverev, the latter heavily tipped to lift the 'Coupe De Mousquetaires'. ' I think at the moment he's a bit underrated..' An understatement from the German, while swallowing his bitter 4-6, 6-3,6-2,6-2 Last 8 loss to the Serbian icon. Despite a lack lustre season, let's not forget Djokovic beat Alcaraz in the Australian Open Quarter Finals, in another epic match which according to the victor 'should have been the Final..' And he arrived at Roland Garros brimming with confidence, having secured his 100th Singles title in Geneva. Zverev added- 'This is the best he has played all year.' The best of Djokovic's shotmaking included- uncharacteristically- 26 winning volleys out of 36 forays to the net- definitely a very necessary string, this entrenched baseliner has finally added to his bow. The question remains, can the Serb now take out the World Nos 1 & 2, Sinner & Alcaraz, back to back having eliminated No 3, in his quest to notch up that coveted 25th win. No other Major champion has achieved this 'treble' to date, yet perhaps we should not rule out a fairytale ending, on a court conducive to so many promising beginnings.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Spain's Yamal primed to ‘prove' himself against ‘legend' Ronaldo
'It's a special game, a final against a great team gives us extra motivation,' Yamal told reporters Spain forward Lamine Yamal during the UEFA Nations League semifinal between Spain and France in Stuttgart, Germany on Thursday. Picture: FRANCK FIFE / AFP Spain starlet Lamine Yamal said Sunday's Nations League final against Portugal would give him the chance to 'prove who I am' after helping his side past France in the semis on Thursday. Spain's magic Yamal Yamal scored twice and was named man of the match in a 5-4 win over the French in Stuttgart on Thursday, sealing progress to this weekend's Nations League final against their Iberian rivals. A late French flourish obscured Spain's dominance, with La Roja cruising at 5-1 before dropping their intensity, allowing France to score three late goals. As they did on their way to winning Euro 2024 in Germany last season, Spain's success was built on the foundation of wingers Yamal and Nico Williams. Williams, who got a goal of his own and set up another, was man of the match in the 2-1 Euro 2024 final win over England. Thursday's victory puts 2021 Nations League winners against Portugal, who won the competition in 2019. 'It's a special game, a final against a great team gives us extra motivation,' Yamal told reporters. 'This is the kind of game I want to play, to prove who I am.' Still just 17, Yamal will face off against Portugal veteran Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 23 years his senior. 'He's a football legend,' Yamal said. 'I, like all the players, have huge respect for Cristiano. 'I will do my job, which is to try to win, and that's it,' he added. 'One of the greats' Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said fans would see 'two super powerful teams' on Sunday, adding 'this could be a World Cup final. 'We're playing against one of the greats: Cristiano Ronaldo. Just his name stands out — I have limitless admiration for him. 'It's really great to see a player at his age to keep playing and be as fit as he is. I admire him very much.' Mikel Merino, another Spanish goalscorer on Thursday, was confident. 'It's not our first final,' he said. 'Munich brings us amazing memories from the European Championship. 'I'm very happy to be in another final is a huge accomplishment and hopefully we can win it again.'
eNCA
a day ago
- eNCA
Gauff stops fairytale Boisson run to reach French Open final
Coco Gauff brought a quick end to surprise French hero Lois Boisson's improbable run at Roland Garros on Thursday to set up a final against world number one Aryna Sabalenka. Gauff dominated from the outset on Court Philippe Chatrier and pulled away to a 6-1, 6-2 victory to extinguish the host nation's hopes of a first French Open winner since Mary Pierce in 2000. The 21-year-old Gauff is through to her third Grand Slam singles final. She finished runner-up to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros three years ago before beating Sabalenka to win the 2023 US Open. "Obviously there's still a lot of work to do, but for now I'll enjoy this one and then prepare for the final tomorrow," she said. For Boisson, 22, it marked a disappointing finish to a remarkable first Grand Slam appearance, a year after missing out because of a serious knee injury. The world number 361 had never played a top-50 opponent before this week. Boisson dumped out two in the top 10 in third-ranked Jessica Pegula and world number six Mirra Andreeva to set up her last-four clash with Gauff. But Gauff proved a hurdle too far for a player who only had one WTA tour-level win before the start of the tournament. Boisson's entrance on court drew huge roars from a crowd filling back up after watching Sabalenka knock out three-time reigning champion Swiatek in the first semi-final. Cheers greeted each of Boisson's returns during the warm-up, but it was Gauff who hit the ground running with a break of serve in the opening game. The American second seed followed a comfortable hold with another break to dampen home spirits as the rain began to pound heavily on the closed roof. Boisson passed up three break points in the fourth game before finally getting on the board after Gauff had raced into a 4-0 lead. Gauff wrapped up the set with little fuss though following another break, subduing a partisan crowd that helped spur Boisson past Andreeva in the quarter-finals. After an exchange of holds to begin the second set, Boisson couldn't capitalise on a break point in the third game as she fired a forehand low into the net. Gauff broke for a 3-1 cushion only to hand the advantage right back the next game. With Boisson struggling for the consistency of earlier rounds, Gauff soon seized control again with her fifth break of the match for a 4-2 edge. Boisson could not produce one last act of defying the odds as Gauff pocketed the final two games to seal a comfortable victory.
