Red Bull Ajo’s Brad BinderAfter rounds in Qatar, Argentina and Texas, the 2016 Moto3 Championship headed to Europe for the first time this season for round four at the 2.75-mile Jerez Circuit containing 13 corners.Much focus was on Valentino Rossi’s SKY Racing Team VR46 KTM’s Nicolo Bulega, who earned the pole. But an equal amount of eyes were on Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brad Binder, who was sent to last place (35th) due to an electronic mapping infringement on his KTM.
The South African rider was penalized for using non-homologated ECU software after qualifying. Things didn’t look that promising, but Binder changed things – and quickly. Binder, who joined the Moto3 series in 2012, battled his way to the front and earned his debut win. After one of the most dominating performances in Moto3, Binder finished 3.336 seconds ahead of Bulega, and 3.441 seconds ahead of Aspar Mahindra Team Moto3’s Francesco Bagnaia.When the 23-lap race began, Binder moved from 35th to 15th within two laps, and within the top 10 on lap six. As the leaders – Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda’s Jorge Navarro, Bagnaia and Bulega battled, Binder continued to creep up. With 15 to go, Binder was in fourth, consistently running 1:47s as the lead group was in the 1:48s.Eyes were focused on Binder, but the fight for fifth remained an intense brawl as the likes of Joan Mir (Leopard Racing), Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Moto3) and Philipp Oettl (Schedl GP Racing) traded positions.As the laps ticked down, so did the gap to the front. Soon Binder was involved in the podium battle, moving to third at Turn 1 on the 14th lap. Not long after Binder would move into second as Bagnaia ran wide at Turn 1. The leading group gathered together once more, but it didn’t worry the South African as he pushed his way into the lead at Turn 6 on lap 18.Clear track ahead, Binder began to open up a lead as Navarro and Bagnaia diced for second. As the final three laps began Binder had a one second lead over second, still lapping in the mid 1:47s. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider was gone but the fight for second was fierce as Bulega struck at Turn 6, slamming his way into second but Bagnaia and Navarro responded. All three traded places and it all came down to the drag to the line after an incredible move by Bulega into Turn 13. It was enough to ensure Bulega took second and thus a debut podium with Bagnaia taking his second podium of the year with third.The gap would grow to an unbelievable 3.4 seconds as Binder became the first ever South African to win a lightweight class race. With his first victory, Binder extended his championship lead to 15 points over Navarro.Jorge Navarro lost out on the podium in the final corner, forced to settle for fourth. Jakub Kornfeil (Drive M7 SIC Racing Team) would eventually win the battle for fifth. Joan Mir (Leopard Racing), Romano Fenati (Sky Racing Team VR46), Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Moto3), Jules Danilo (Ongetta-Rivacold) and Phillip Oettl (Schedl GP Racing) completed the top ten.There were a number of falls throughout the race with Andrea Locatelli (Leopard Racing), Hiroki Ono (Honda Team Asia) and Karel Hanika (Platinum Bay Real Estate) all going down together on the third lap. Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) was in contention for the top ten until he fell at Turn 1 on lap six.John McPhee (Peugeot MC Saxoprint) fell at Turn 2. Several laps later Niccolo Antonelli would also fall, but at Turn 8 as he attempted to recover from his pit lane start.The fifth round of 2016 Moto3 gets underway in two weeks at Le Mans for the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France.
