Binder (KTM) after a dream start and 6th place: “Jack has a slow bike”

Brad Binder enjoyed a redeeming end to a MotoGP session that had long looked rather bleak. The frustration of the previous day, when the South African narrowly missed out on a place in Q2, was followed by the same disappointment on a wet track – even though Binder was leading with the fastest time shortly before the Q2 chequered flag. But he ended up in third place – and thus 13th on the grid.

Under normal circumstances, this would rule out any significant improvement. But Phillip Island was not, and will not be, ‘normal’ even in 2026. The Red Bull rider shone with an exceptional start, capped off by a flawless move into the corner. As a result, the number 33 had made up no fewer than six places.

Willkommen auf Phillip Island

Foto: Gold & Goose

Marc Márquez

Foto: Gold & Goose

Fans

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Aprilia

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Brad Binder

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Diogo Moreira

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Jorge Martin

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Fabio Di Giannantonio

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Ai Ogura

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Pecco Bagnaia

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Pedro Acosta

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Fans

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Brad Binder

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Jorge Martin

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Johann Zarco

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Marco Bezzecchi

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Start des Sprint-Rennens

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Alex Márquez

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Jack Miller

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Sprint-Rennen

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Marco Bezzecchi

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Jorge Martin und Marc Márquez

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Marc Márquez

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Alex Márquez, Marc Márquez, Fabio Di Giannantonio

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Sprint-Sieger Marc Márquez

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Alex Márquez

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Willkommen auf Phillip Island

© Gold & Goose

Hence the first question in the subsequent press conference – what sort of start was that? Binder played down the manoeuvre with a broad grin: “Yes, the start was very good, but I was also in the right place at the right time in the opening laps. The lads made things a bit difficult for themselves in Turn 4. Sometimes you need a bit of luck too.”

Then he dropped back a position again, as Marco Bezzecchi – one of the riders whose bike Binder’s RC16 had overtaken at the start – was significantly faster on the straights. Jack Miller was also faster, but only in the corners. Binder caught up with the Aussie, and an interesting duel ensued , with Binder coming out on top. The BMW Superbike works rider for next year felt a touch of sympathy for Miller afterwards, as he’ll have him around him again in 2027. “Jack was on a mission; he really let rip in the corners, but unfortunately he’s just got such a slow bike.”

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Phillip Island: International Stream

MotoGP World Championship

25.10.2026 - 00:35

With four laps to go in the 13-lap sprint, both riders were overtaken by the fast-moving Aprilia rider Ogura. As the Japanese rider was racing with tyre pressure that was too low, Brad Binder’s seventh-place finish was reclassified as sixth. This meant the Austrians had two riders in the points and were the second-strongest team on the day. Brad Binder also benefited from Honda rider Luca Marini’s withdrawal due to illness. In the World Championship standings, Binder moved up to 13th, level with the Italian.