Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/677616
MOTOGP MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 5 / MAY 9, 2016 LE MANS / LE MANS, FRANCE P66 MOTO3 BRAD'S BACK-TO-BACK BRILLIANCE A thriller as usual, and a second straight win for South African Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM), was achieved with strong speed and perfect last-lap tactics. Binder had seized the lead on the first lap from pole qualifier Nico Antonelli (Ongetta-Rivacold Honda), and the usual early brawl continued until after half distance, when four broke away up front. One was Binder's main chal- lenger Romano Fenati (Sky VR46 KTM), and the Estrella Galicia Honda pairing of Jorge Navarro and rookie teammate Aron Canet. Fenati led most often over the line, but Binder was waiting his chance. "I tried to pull away but I saw today it wouldn't be possible," said Binder, "but I knew if I pushed really hard on the last lap I could brake a little later and close the lines well enough not to give anyone a chance of pass- ing me." That is exactly how it played out, Binder leading the last two laps, and a frustrated Fenati fin- ishing 0.099 seconds adrift. Rookie Canet was remark- able, demonstrating no team or- ders as he got ahead of Navarro several times, and then made a desperate lunge into the last pair of corners, only to run wide. Navarro was third, 0.387 behind the leader, and Canet another second adrift. The quartet behind had grown to six again by the end, with an- other rookie—Nicolo Bulega (Sky VR46 KTM) narrowly defeat- ing Fabio Quartararo (Leopard KTM), from Andrea Migno (Sky VR46KTM), Antonelli, Jakub Kornfeil (Drive M7 Honda) and Andrea Locatelli (Leopard KTM). Kornfeil had been with the lead- ers, before taking to the escape road at high speed. Livio Loi (RW Honda) was 11th, escaping from a battle between Pecco Bagnaia (Aspar Mahindra), Juanfran Guevara (RBA KTM) and Argentine GP winner Khairul Idham Pawi (Team Asia Honda), with Tatsuki Suzuki (CIP Mahin- dra) still close for the last point. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Honda) was a non-starter, ruled unfit after breaking his wrist test- ing after the last round in Spain. Moto3 racing is close, the championship less so, with Binder stretching his lead on 102 points to Navarro on 78, then Fenati (67), Bulega (47) and Antonelli (39). CN Brad Binder's (41) race maturity is showing through now he's a GP winner. His Le Mans triumph was his second on the trot.