Every South African motorsport fan must’ve been out of their seats earlier today as Brad Binder wins in the top-flight MotoGP category. The 2016 Moto3 champion also becomes the first South African rider to triumph in the premier motorbike racing class. He finished ahead of Franco Morbidelli with Johann Zarco third despite take a late race lap penalty. The last MotoGP rider to win in his rookie year was reigning champ Marc Marquez.

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Brad Binder’s win was also the very first for the KTM Factory Racing outfit. Binder has been threatening since the very first race of the 2020 season where he showed a good turn of speed. For today’s event he qualified a credible seventh. The 24-year-old (who celebrates his birthday this week) started strongly off the line at the Automotodrom Brno in the Czech Republic.

He then picked his moments perfectly throughout the race to overtake Yamaha team-mates Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli. Once he cleared Morbidelli he piled on the pace to open up a commanding lead on the chasing pack. He capped off the dominant win by proudly flying the South African flag around his shoulders during the victory lap. Binder has also claimed a Moto2 win during his brief tenure in that class.

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In the post-race interview Binder said: “This is a day I have dreamed about since I was a little boy. Today, it came true. I really wish my parents were here because they were the ones that backed me from the beginning. I can’t thank my team enough. They put an absolutely insane motorbike underneath me this weekend. Thank you to everyone at home for always supporting me. I hope that this is the start of many more.”

Binder and KTM head to the factory’s home race in Austria for a double-header.