MotoGP debut for Brad Binder at the season-opening race

The flag falls on the start of the 2020 MotoGP season this Sunday in Spain, a few months later than scheduled due to the worldwide Covid-19 epidemic. This race is the first of 13 confirmed for the 2020 calendar. Round one of the series is the Gran Premio de España in Jerez. All races will take place in Europe, with several back-to-back race weekends, often at the same circuit. No spectators, no guests, or media will be allowed at the races. This weekend will also be of special interest to SA racing fans as it is the MotoGP debut for Brad Binder.

Follow Double Apex on Instagram and Facebook where we share more car content.

South Africa’s top motorsports athlete won the Moto3 title in 2016 and has since competed in the Moto2 championship. Long-time KTM works rider Binder got the call up to the top-flight MotoGP class for 2020. The start of 2020 MotoGP campaign has been delayed several months, which meant Binder has been keenly awaiting his debut.

Said Binder ahead of the season: “The most exciting thing is that it has been a long road trying to get to where I am today and when I line up on the grid for the first Grand Prix, it will really all set in.”

Click here to read why one racer believes it is infinitely more difficult to race a MotoGP bike than it is to drive a Formula One racecar.

All the usual suspects will be chasing reigning champ Marc Marquez. Binder (No33) will line up on the grid alongside the likes of MotoGP regulars Maverick Viñales, Andrea Dovizioso, Jack Miller, Cal Crutchlow and the Doctor, Valentino Rossi. The Pochefstroom lad showed that he isn’t there to just make up the numbers either. He planted his KTM third on the timesheets in this afternoon’s second practice session. His quickest time was just 1/10^th off that set by Marquez.