INTERVIEW
FIM MOTO3 WORLD CHAMPION BRAD BINDER
P80
lia and Malaysia, "because people are
getting desperate. It's the end of the
season and every guy is looking for that
one great result. If I look at my season,
I've been in first position for a lot more
laps than anyone else. And when you're
in first you have no problems. When
you're in the group, that's when the ac-
cidents happen.
"I'm not going to say their names, but
there's two or three guys that you know
are going to do something stupid. It's
not if, it's when. It's important to know
your competitors."
Binder, who turned 21 during the
season, grew up far away from the
action in Krugersdorp outside Johan-
nesburg, South Africa, where a free
and easy lifestyle in a bike-mad fam-
ily meant dirt bikes on the weekend
and road bikes from his early teens.
"When I was 14 I used to jump on my
GSX-R600 and go to school, which
was quite funny. You can't do that many
places, but in South Africa if you got
caught it's not the end of the world.
I didn't have a licence, no number
plates. I'd drive past the cops, and they
don't even stress."
Binder started racing before he
turned 10, on four wheels, becoming
South African 50cc Karting Champion
before telling his father he'd rather
race bikes. His talent was obvious, and
by the age of 13 his father, Trevor, a
successful businessman in the mining
industry, understood he needed a big-
ger stage.
"We arrived in Britain on a Tuesday,
bought a bike [for the Aprilia Super-
teen Series] on Wednesday, and
started racing at Brands Hatch on
Friday. From the first time I was there,
I was fastest in a few of the sessions
so that was pretty good. In the race I
was second."
The Red Bull Rookies Cup came
next, with three years in the series,
and in 2012 he was in GPs, in Moto3.
It took some time before he could
make an impact. By 2014 he was get-
ting used to running up front, but that
Jerez win in 2016 was his first. He had
to learn how to calm down, and ride
with his head as well as his heart.
(Above) The
ecstasy of that
first win. His
come-from-
behind ride at
Jerez became
his Moto3
trademark.
(Above right)
He only failed
to finish twice,
the first coming
in the Czech
Republic,
hydroplaning
off the track
while miles in
front.
"MIDSEASON, EVERYONE WAS SAYING: 'YOU'RE IN IT FOR THE
CHAMPIONSHIP. YOU NEED TO TAKE IT EASY AND GET POINTS.' AND
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SO MUCH."
