South African and KTM rider Brad Binder finished the Grand Prix of the Americas sprint race in fifth place while 2023 leader Francesco Bagnaia won the race.
Binder won the previous sprint race in Argentina after charging from 15th. There was none of that in Austin as he started in 11th place as per his qualifying result which will also be his starting position in Sunday’s race at the Circuit of the Americas.
Bagnaia started the race from pole position on his Ducati but had to fend off Alex Rins on the LCR Honda on the opening lap to hold his lead. The Italian gradually built his lead to finish 2.545 seconds clear of Rins.
Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin was able to salvage third place despite feeling unwell after capitalising on a late error by Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro.
Binder came home fifth on his KTM ahead of Argentina GP winner Marco Bezzecchi and his VR46 teammate Luca Marini. The Italian pair having poor starts on the first lap and needed to work their way up the grid.
Miguel Oliveira and Binder’s KTM teammate Jack Miller took the final sprint points in eighth and ninth respectively, with Maverick Vinales crossing the chequered flag in 10th ahead of Johann Zarco and Joan Mir.
#TissotSprint done! ✅
What does the Grand Prix hold in store tomorrow? ????#AmericasGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/FQ1Kjb2InV
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) April 15, 2023
Binder’s fifth place finish in the sprint race earned him five points while he has 27 points overall in the drivers standings in seventh place.
Bezzecchi remains the leader in the Drivers standings but only one point ahead of Bagnaia.
