Binder saves KTM's honor at home

Last year at the Styrian GP, ​​Pol Espargaro took pole position, KTM's very first in the premier category. But this weekend, none of the five KTMs entered appeared on the first three rows of the starting grid. And at the finish, Brad Binder and Dani Pedrosa placed two KTMs in the Top 10 compared to four last year... This is actually the only time that this has happened for the Mattighofen firm.

The red flag was a boon for Binder who struggled with the front tire in the first few laps. “ I felt that I didn't have the right temperature in the front tire, it stuck when braking and I even almost fell during the warm-up lap, explained the South African. I had a better second start and was able to pass a few drivers. The tire then overheated and I could no longer drive. I had to be careful when braking and entering. I had to impose a limit on myself. I felt like I was riding with a ball in front (…) I was able to overtake a few guys at the end and I'm super happy with my comeback from the 16^e in fourth place. But it was a very, very tough race for us. »

Dani Pedrosa's fall at turn 3 caused the red flag.

Involved in the accident which took place on the third lap, Dani Pedrosa, test driver of the brand and wildcard this weekend, thinks that it may be linked to his tire. “ I don't know why I fell, confided the Spaniard. Maybe I hit the inside line or maybe the front tire was still too cold on the right sidewall. I was using the hard for today's cool conditions. I tried to straighten it, it didn't work and I lost the front end. The motorcycle then spun around and Savadori hit him. I feel sorry for him and I was lucky. This is the first time this has happened to me and I was a little shocked to see all the motorbikes passing from both sides.. "

Pedrosa therefore had to leave with his second RC16 which his mechanics had to adjust for dry conditions. “ We had some problems with the bike this weekend, he confessed. One bike worked better than the other and I had to take the second machine. I said to myself “I’m going, but I’ll be careful at first”. I wasn't very focused and I even forgot to activate the start device. I didn't get a good start and lost a few positions, but I wasn't worried. And halfway through the race, I found my rhythm again. However, the tires behaved differently than during testing and it was easy to fall. But I maintained my pace, and with the penalties and falls here and there, I gained places and caught up with the group led by the Marquez brothers and Bagnaia. I am satisfied with this weekend. We learned in areas we hoped for, plus a few surprises. »

Winner last year in Styria, Miguel Oliveira had to give up not because of his hand injury, but rather because of a defect on the front tire. “ It was a trying weekend for many reasons, starting on Friday, declared the Portuguese who is losing precious points in the ranking. But surprisingly we were able to race on Saturday and did decent qualifying. As for the race, I wasn't completely confident, because I knew it was going to be difficult. I managed to put myself in position to finish well, but had to retire due to a defect on the front tire. There were vibrations that could have caused a fall. I hope we have another opportunity next week to do better. »

Binder and Oliveira are not the only ones to have experienced tire problems. Marc Marquez, Cal Crutchlow Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin (before the red flag) all encountered difficulties.