Brad Binder was fastest in the afternoon session, the only one held in the dry today at Motegi, a track on which the KTM has proven to be competitive in the past. The South African, in fact, finished in second place in both the 2022 race and last year’s Sprint.
With the other RC16 designed by GasGas Tech3 finishing in fourth place with rookie Pedro Acosta, Binder is confident that the 2024 edition of the Japanese Grand Prix can mark a continuation of this positive trend.
“I’m very happy to be the fastest,” commented Binder. “We started quite well this morning, I felt good already from the first laps. Everything worked as best as possible.”
“We had a small problem at the start of the afternoon session. I had to come back and replace the brakes because I had a strong vibration. After that I had to try to understand a few things. Then, as soon as I put on the tires for the time attack , I felt really good.”
“Our bike works very well here with the new tyre. Tomorrow we will try to work on the race pace and hope to be strong. It is clear that this track is suitable for our bike: it was like this last year and even before. I intend to make the most of it.”
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull GASGAS Tech3
Photo credit: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Pedro Acosta, who is using a chassis that Binder discarded after testing it at Misano, appears to be equally optimistic about KTM’s chances at Motegi.
“The KTM is always a very strong bike here,” said the Spaniard, who finished on the podium in Indonesia last Sunday and is chasing a victory in his rookie MotoGP season. “Brad took it to parc fermé in 2022.”
When asked if he felt as “in tune” with his bike as he seemed from the side of the track, Acosta was happy to confirm the impression. “It’s a really good feeling,” he said. “It’s very nice when your bike has the same strengths that you have as a rider.”
“We don’t have many problems with the front. Now we’re also improving traction and turning a lot. It’s always easier to release the brakes when I feel I’m in a risky situation and try to take the corner. We have to be happy, because we we’re getting closer to the best.”
Among other things, the results obtained by the KTMs at the speed trap are also very interesting: Acosta (314.8 km/h) and Binder (313.9 km/h) finished with the second and third speed, behind only of Pecco Bagnaia’s Ducati, which reached 315.7 km/h.
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