Brad Binder was given the opportunity to ride the new RC16 bike at the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi. This bike marked a significant shift away from KTM’s traditional steel trellis frame philosophy. Binder’s performance on the RC16 was promising, with him setting a new lap record in Friday practice and finishing second in the sprint race on Saturday.
Despite his strong performance in the sprint race, poor weather conditions and the time lost during bike swaps prevented Binder from mounting a challenge in the main race at Motegi. He unfortunately crashed out at Turn 3. Reflecting on the sprint race battle against Jorge Martin, Binder highlighted the issue of his rear tyre going off four laps into the 12-lap contest. This hindered his ability to exit corners as quickly as his competitor.
Binder acknowledged the need to improve his turning and pick-up abilities, highlighting it as a weakness compared to Martin. He recognized that while the new RC16 performed well on a new tyre, it showed certain limitations as the tyre wore down. These observations provide valuable insights into the areas where Binder needs to focus his efforts in order to enhance his performance.
When questioned about the KTM’s performance in wet conditions, Binder described the bike as exceptional on braking and entry. However, he struggled slightly on corner exit. Despite losing time in the pits, he believed that he was catching up with the riders ahead of him but admitted to pushing too hard.
While Binder expressed confidence in finding further gains with the carbon fibre chassis, he was cautious about proclaiming the new RC16 as a bike capable of consistently challenging Ducati, the benchmark manufacturer, for the championship. He characterized the changes made as small steps in the right direction, understanding that even the slightest improvements can have a significant impact in the grand scheme of racing.
It is worth noting that Jack Miller, Binder’s teammate, also had the opportunity to ride the new RC16 at Motegi. Miller finished fourth in the sprint race and secured a sixth-place finish in the rain-shortened main race. This demonstrates that the new bike has the potential to deliver positive results for KTM.
Binder’s experience on the new RC16 bike provides valuable insights into its strengths and weaknesses. While improvements have been made, there is still work to be done in terms of turning, pick-up, and performance in wet conditions. By addressing these areas, Binder and his team have the potential to unlock the full potential of the RC16 and compete at a higher level.
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