After four consecutive Fridays concluded outside the top 10, which forced him to go through Q1 each time, and in the wake of an Indonesian GP marked by numerous problems, Brad Binder more than revived this Friday in Japan, setting the best time. The KTM performs better at Motegi and is currently in the fight with the Ducati.
“It’s certain that the last races were a little difficult”commented Binder on the official championship website, after returning to more familiar solutions this weekend: “We came here with a little bit of a different idea, instead of just riding the bike or reinventing things. It was pretty good today, I can’t complain.”
Binder, however, explained to journalists that he felt a “huge vibration” at the start of Testing, due to a problem with a brake which was subsequently corrected: “We had a little problem at the start, I came in and then left. I didn’t have any grip, I wasn’t sure what was happening. We changed tires for the first time attack and my bike was back, everything was working normally again.”
“It was really cool to get back into first place in a test session, it’s been a long time. Our bike seems pretty good here. We’ll try to take advantage of it.”
Brad Binder
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
KTM’s return to form is not only due to a more favorable circuit, but to effective changes: “At KTM, everyone has quite different things to test. We went back to something we knew, without trying to do too much, just riding the bike. It was good, it worked well for us and we can play a little more in the future.”
Binder now hopes to confirm against the Ducatis who are used to gaining momentum during the weekend: “I’m going to try. The feeling was pretty good today. It will be good to see over 24 laps, not just one fast lap. We’ll work on that tomorrow morning. The priority is to have good qualifying and try to fight again with the leaders.”
Acosta also in good rhythm
Brad Binder is not the only one to have made the KTM shine this Friday at the Japanese GP since Pedro Acosta took fourth place, less than two tenths from his future teammate. He felt he was closer to the Ducati riders than in most other races.
“I felt quite efficient, I saw that I was not very far from the leaders’ times”underlined the one who currently wears the colors of Tech3. “We have to be a little more satisfied because we’re closer to them and it’s a little easier to put everything together.”
Pedro Acosta
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“I feel very good”underlined Acosta, in harmony with his machine a week after the Mandalika podium: “It’s great when your bike has exactly the same strengths as your riding. Maybe that’s our secret to not having a lot of problems with the front tire.”
“We are also progressing in traction and turning and when I take risks, it becomes easier and easier to release the brakes and maintain speed in curves. We are getting closer to what we are looking for.”
