MOTO GP

Binder puts KTM ahead in Czech Republic

This Sunday (9) Brad Binder won the Czech Republic Grand Prix, the third stage of the 2020 MotoGP season. The KTM driver climbed the pack throughout the race at the Brno circuit, and took the lead on lap 13, overcoming Franco Morbidelli. From then on, he was no longer reached, earning his first victory in the premier category of the World Championship.
The result also signifies KTM's first victory since arriving in MotoGP. The team reached the main world motorcycle championship four seasons ago, and achieved triumph with a rider who has defended the brand since the time he competed in Moto3.
Second place went to Franco Morbidelli, a SRT Yamaha rider who led the race from the start until he was overtaken by Binder. Third place went to Johann Zarco, a driver who started from pole position with an Avintia Ducati, finished third, even though he had to pay a long lap after an incident with Pol Espargaró, which fell when touched by the Frenchman.
Álex Rins finished the race in fourth with a Suzuki, after attacking Zarco in the final laps. Valentino Rossi closed the race in fifth with Yamaha, followed by Miguel Oliveira, Tech3 KTM rider. Fabio Quartararo, from SRT Yamaha who lost performance throughout the race. Takaaki Nakagami, Aleix Espargaró and Jack Miller closed the top-10.
During the race Binder cut the gap for Morbidelli to two tenths, going on to attack the leader of the race in the next round, easily overtaking. Zarco, in third position, was punished with a long lap for the incident with Pol Espargaró, and was put under pressure by Quartararo shortly after paying the penalty.
Rins put pressure on Quartararo for fourth place in the race when there were six laps to go, bringing Rossi with him. On the next lap, the Suzuki Spaniard managed to overtake, in an act repeated by the “Doctor” shortly after. With four laps to go, Miguel Oliveira went through the championship leader.
Rins approached Zarco with two laps to go, without overtaking. Binder, for his part, won for the first time in MotoGP.

Credit: Ricardo Ferreira, Portugal