As the expression goes, "No guts, no glory." That seems to be the motto KTM rider Brad Binder lives by given his gutsy performance this weekend during the MotoGP race in Austria. Mere miles from KTM's headquarters, the factory rider made a bold decision late in the Austrian Grand Prix that proved to be a pivotal moment in the race. As the conditions around the Red Bull Ring began to worsen, with rain starting to fall toward the end of the race, riders had to decide whether to pit and change tires or try to endure the weather on slicks. This split second decision proved to be the difference in the race and as the checkered flag fell, Binder showed he had chosen wisely.
To Pit On Not To Pit, That Is The Question
Entering the weekend, the KTM factory team had high hopes, especially given Miguel Oliveira's podium finishes earlier in the season. He won the Catalan GP and came in second at the German GP, and Binder finished fourth the week prior at the Styria Grand Prix. So, with success this season KTM desperately wanted to have a good showing on their home track. What they didn't anticipate was one of the most dramatic conclusions to a race in recent memory. The crucial moment in the race came with just four laps to go as rain began to fall around the course.
The race started with dry conditions and was incredibly competitive with numerous lead changes to that point, but with five laps left, the rain started to come down and two riders (Jack Miller and Alex Rins) surprised the field by pitting for rain tires. A lead group consisting of six riders, all in contention for the win, stayed out for one more lap, but as pitlane approached, five of the six slowed and ducked in while a lone rider did not. As the other leaders, including Francesco Pecco, Marc Marquez, Fabio Quartararo, Jorge Martin, and Joan Mir opted to pit and swap bikes, Binder, who was running in sixth at the time, gunned it to take the lead out on the circuit.
KTM Reigns Supreme In The Rain
Binder may have committed to riding in the rain on slicks, but his victory was by no means a guarantee. He was forced to gingerly maneuver his motorcycle around the Red Bull Ring knowing that the lead group would try to overtake him with the few laps they had left. Entering and exiting corners, Binder was clearly battling his bike as the conditions became more and more treacherous, and the others on slicks could not hold off the riders on rain tires. Clawing his way to the finish, Binder was able to protect his lead and brought home a wonderful, albeit wet win for KTM.