Current Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 rider Brad Binder has confirmed that he is on the move to MotoGP for the 2020 season where he’ll ride for the Red Bull KTM Tech 3 team. The 23-year-old will join Miguel Oliveira on the RC16 next year after three seasons in Moto2.
“Looking forward, it’s an incredible feeling, a crazy feeling to think that I’ll be racing in MotoGP next year,” Binder said. “I just have to say a huge thank you to KTM for putting their trust in me and taking me through to the premier class and yeah, I’m really excited to get started next year and see how things go next year.
“Next year I think my main goal will be to learn as quickly as possible and learn from the much more experienced guys on the KTMs. I obviously want to go there and do well straight away but in MotoGP, everything is extremely hard and super tight so you know, I’m sure it’ll take time to find my feet in MotoGP but I’m confident we can do a good job there.”
Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager Herve Poncharal admitted to having had his eye on Binder since entering the world championship.
“We are only halfway through our first racing season in MotoGP with KTM, but already we have some incredible, exciting news coming with the signing of Brad Binder for the 2020 MotoGP season,” Poncharal said. “Brad is somebody I have been following since he joined the championship in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and later in the Moto3. I have always been amazed by his talent, his aggressivity and his never-give-up-attitude and when you run a motorcycle race team, this is the profile of rider you wish and you love to have.
“I think to have the Miguel Oliveira – Brad Binder line-up reunited with us next year is something that shows the Red Bull KTM organisation and path is working. I think Brad Binder more than deserves a MotoGP ride next year after what he has been showing in the Moto2 the past two seasons. I know KTM and I can witness KTM is working incredibly hard to improve the MotoGP bike and I’m quite sure that Brad with the winter test will be very happy and very fast from round one on that bike.
“It’s going to be a strong team, as I think there will be a great relationship between him and Miguel, his teammate and I honestly believe, I couldn’t dream for a better structure. Miguel and Brad know each other, they are both incredible competitors and when you are a team owner, this is all you wish for.”
The South African competed in five races in the 125cc class in the 2011 world championship while contesting the Red Bull MotoGP Rookie Cup before accepting Moto3 ride in 2012. In 2016 Binder won seven races on his way to claiming the 2016 Moto3 World Championship. Binder will be the first South African to compete in the premier class since Shane Norval back in 2000 and the first in the four-stroke era.
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