KTM managed to show more pace on the final day of M♕otoGP pre-season testing, that was clear, but with Ducati continuing to dominate proceedings, Binder’s best effort was only enough for P9. 

Given seven of the eight riders that lapped faster were all aboard Ducati machinery, Binder’s time attack effort seemed to indicate that they’re in the ballpark with other manufacturers🅷, although Ap♌rilia have regularly shown more potential, especially over race trim at both Sepang and Portimao.

• Marquez ‘close to the limit’ of Ducati,ꦺ has better ‘understanding after crash’ 
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Still, Binder felt as though a big step forward was made following Saturday’s opening day which left the South Afric💮an less than impressed. 

"We made a good step forward [on Sunday]," Binder told . "We had to rethink things [on Saturday night] because of👍 what we wer🍃e doing, I wasn’t happy. The team did a great job to make me more comfortable, so I was able to push harder.

"We’re closer to where we🍎 need to be. I feel more comfortable on the bike, for sure. But there is definitely a step we can make before the race. We have some important data.

"We did a𝓀 couple of time attacks. They went pretty good, better than expected. It seemed more comfortable on ne♚w tyres than old ones, which is normally the complete opposite for us. Clearly we have done something right in some areas. But we are missing in others.

"We aren’t super-far 🧸off. We closed more than a second off [from Saturday]. I’m ready to kee♒p pushing."

For those in need of fine tuning their Sprint ra💧ce potential, day-two at Portimao presented the perfect opportunity to assess where they stand.

Ducati have again led the way during most of the Sprint simulations, and while Binder believes tyre choices can make a big difference, the level he and KTM are at currently suggests more is♛ still needed if he wants to challenge for wins.

"I tried to find my bearings for the first sprint race of the yeꦏar," added Binder. "For me, it is clear that we’re not at the level that I want to be at. But we have time to sit down, analyse everybody who did one, and see what the right tyre choice is for next week."

Clearly pushing hard to close the gap, Binder’s day wasn’t without drama ꦫas ♉he crashed twice, as did Alex Marquez.