KTM rider Brad Binder says he was surprised to claim victory in the Argentina MotoGP sprint race after starting 15th.
The 27-year-old South African made a massive launch at the start of the race, using the inside line to get past several drivers at turn one of the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo .
By the end of lap one, Binder was third and then made successive overtakes on Alex Marquez and Franco Morbidelli on the next two laps, which were good enough to grab the required 12 points for a sprint race victory ahead of Mooney VR46 Racing’s Marco Bezzecchi and Luca Marini.
“Today was a bit of a surprise, for sure,” Binder said after the sprint. “Not only for me but for my team. I knew my starts had been really good since Portimao and I got a great launch.
“I pushed hard in the first three/four corners to make up as much time as possible, and when I saw I was in third or fourth position, I had to shake my head a bit and make sure it was real. Super happy with how things went.
“My team completely turned my bike around. I felt so much more comfortable and had way more grip.
“Can’t thank my guys enough and tomorrow we will keep fighting to try.”
15th ➡️ 1st! @BradBinder_33 wins the #TissotSprint! ????#ArgentinaGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/toS0RqD7z9
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) April 1, 2023
The sprint race represents Binder’s first MotoGP victory since the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix.
Binder’s sprint win also moves him up to fourth in the riders’ championship, 19 points behind leader Bagnaia.
