The MotoGP tests in Qatar started encouragingly for Brad Binder. The Red Bull KTM rider managed to mix in among the Italian bikes to be fourth yesterday, 0.296s behind leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati).
#33 commented on Monday’s tests in Losail: ‘The first day here in Qatar was pretty good. In the morning, of course, the track had some sand, but nothing unusual here. We were lucky that it cleared up very quickly and we were able to start testing well. It was a very reasonable day, honestly I can’t complain. We tried some things, obviously not all of them were good, but it really filtered things out for us. In the end, I was very comfortable with what I had, we took a good step from where we started in the morning. On Tuesday, the important thing is that we still have many things to try, but if we can get through that, hopefully we’ll find something good. And then put it all together for the last run of the day and see where we stand‘.
Asked if the first day of testing in Qatar allowed to narrow down the valid options, Binder confirmed: ‘I think we did a good job in Sepang to really get rid of a lot of things, understand, move forward, and keep the things that worked well. This Monday we still played with different setups and found positives, but the most important thing is that both require different adjustments. So now I know which direction I’m leaning towards. […]. Honestly, it was a very reasonable day, it wasn’t too bad at all. I was very happy in the end in Sepang, I’m very happy here. It’s true that we need to be faster, but I think that will happen‘.
Despite there still being a lot of work to do and uncertainties regarding the competitive hierarchy, the South African highlighted his confidence: ‘We have things to try that we haven’t tried yet, so I hope it will be very good. I believe we took a step forward, but everyone else did too. So, we won’t really know where we stand until qualifying [for the Qatar GP]’.
