South African motorcycle-racing sensation Brad Binder claimed his fourth victory of the year at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Malaysia – 24-year-old Brad Binder competes in the Moto2 class and is best known for winning the 2016 Moto3 World Championship. Prior to moving up to Grand Prix level, Binder contested three seasons of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, with the best finish of fifth overall in the championship standings. At the 2016 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix in Jerez, Brad Binder became the first South African to win a motorcycle Grand Prix since Jon Ekerold won the 1981 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix. Binder races in the Moto2 class in 2017, having agreed a deal with Ajo Motorsport.
The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team wrapped up their work at the final round of an intense flyaway triple header with a win at the Malaysian Grand Prix courtesy of Binder, who achieved his second consecutive victory. The South African confirmed his status as the strongest rider in Moto2 in the second half of the year by racking up his fourth win in the last eight races.
Binder had already demonstrated that he was one of the fastest riders this weekend in free practice and, in today’s contest, he took the lead at the very first corner. The South African set an extremely strong pace, riding quicker than the previous race lap record at Sepang.
“The goal today was to win the contest. We gave it everything we had. I was close to crashing, and I had to run off track. Luckily, I pushed hard and regained the lead quickly. I tried to put the maximum pressure on Alex [Marquez], but today he put in an incredible race, and I have to congratulate him on the Championship. We did everything we could at the Malaysian Grand Prix, which was to earn the first position, and we have to be happy for that.” – Brad Binder
In spite of dropping to third place on lap six, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider would not lose his focus and he soon regained the lead, a position he would defend to the finish line, to secure the 14th Grand Prix victory of his career. The result sees Brad move into second place in the general standings, with 234 points.
The Red Bull KTM Ajo team will conclude the 2019 season at the Valencia GP, which will be held at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit from 15th – 17th November and will race in the elite MotoGP class in 2020.
Binder will become the first South African to race MotoGP in the four-stroke era and the first to compete in the premier class since 2000.
South African Pair Win World Relay Gold by Just 0.10 Seconds
Your Weekly Sporting Fix: Events to Look Forward to This Week
by 
