Solid Moto day out for South Africa’s Binder boys

Darryn Binder took his first Moto3 Grand Prix victory on Sunday (September 27) as brother Brad remained in contention for MotoGP’s Rookie of the Year, staying in the points with a respectable P11 in yet another dramatic day for MotoGP.

22-year-old Darryn (CIP – Green Power) held his nerve through the last lap as Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) tried in vain to haul him in. There was drama for the title fight further back though as John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) crashed out and collected former Championship leader Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Tea)

Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia), although only collecting a P11 on Sunday, is the new man to lead Moto3. Later in the day, Darryn’s older brother Brad wove his way through an equally drama-filled MotoGP race to stay in the points, also with a P11.

Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the top Austrian machine as Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) bounced back in serious style in the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. The Frenchman picked his way to the front to pull away initially before just holding off a charge from Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir.

Mir took yet another podium though, and his Team Suzuki Ecstar teammate Alex Rins sliced through from P13 to third to make it two Suzukis on the podium for the first time since 2007. That was as drama ripped through the title fight just behind, with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) down and out early on after he got collected by Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) in a domino effect Turn 1 shuffle, and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) dropping down to P15 before recovering to ninth.

Binder’s teammate Pol Espargaro crashed out, as did Red Bull KTM Tech 3’s Miguel Oliveira. Oliveira’s teammate Iker Lecuona was P14.