Brad Binder on differences between now and 2023: ‘Set-up was on another planet’
Brad Binder says the set-up used to begin the 2023 season ‘was on another pla♈net’.
Despite winning two MotoGP sprintsꦺ early on in 2023, Brad Binder says KTM struggled to f♍ind their feet initially.
Binder recorded two second place finishes during last weekend’s 2024 season-opener in Qatar, showing once again why he’s feared am🃏ong his rivals.
The only rider able to consistently challenge Ducati, Binder proved tha⛄t he and KTM are here to stay this season.
But that wasn’t the feeling he had when starting last ✨season, as Binder admitted there were some diffi💫culties to overcome.
Speaking on the , Binder sꦇaid: “The beginnඣing of last year was really tricky for us to be honest. Purely because in 2022 our bike was very stable and we barely changed anything.
“There weren’t really any updates that came during the season, but the second we got to 23 we got a new bike, new aero🌜, a little bit of a different engine and everything was so new and different.
“The set-up we started using was on an♏other planet compared to what we’re used to. It took so much time to settle in and figure these things out and really start to take advanta𒅌ge of the new package.
“I think🍨 the first time we saw tha💮t we were really competitive was with Jack in Portimao. The first race he was super fast.
“That gave us a lot of confidence. Leaving that test we were still very unsure of w𝕴he𒈔re we were.
“All of a sudden we made a good step before the first race and they brough an update and our biggest negative was reduced a lot less. It made our life a lot better and we were on the pace.🐽”
S🔯haring the factory KTM garage with Jack Miller for a second season in succession in 2024, Binder was keen to point out🃏 that the atmosphere created has been a big help to pushing the project forward.
As has been data sharing, not 🦂just between himself and Miller, but between the Red Bul💃l KTM outfit and GASGAS.
“Jack is a really good mate of mine,” began Binde🌱r. “Coming from Australia and me South Africa, I ꦰthink we have a lot in common.
“I think things a𒆙re similar in those [two countries] even though they are so far apart. I’ve always got on well with him and it’s awesome🍬 sharing a box with him.
“We are constantly checking data between everybody. It’s basically open for all. Betwe🍬en GASGAS and KTM there is always something to learn from every rider.
“We check through all the data, check throug♏h which corner each rider is doing well, w♔here we can improve, where our weak points are.
“It’s the best way to have it to be honest. It kee🌊ps💮 things going forward for us.”
