Brad Binder finally enjoyed a positive Friday at the 2026 Austrian MotoGP. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider went straight into Q2 after finishing eighth fastest in Practice, while his teammate, Pedro Acosta, dominated both free practice sessions at the Red Bull Ring. For Binder, who has struggled for consistency inside the top 10 this season, this result is a breath of fresh air amid performance pressures over the past two years.
"Well, a much more positive day than I've had recently," Binder said after the Practice session. "Super happy to be straight into Q2. It felt pretty good from the first laps this morning. I just really focused on trying to have the best rhythm possible on my own, and take small bites out of it each run. Super stoked to have gone straight through; it was much nicer going into the last run looking for a couple tenths rather than one second."
The main reason for Binder's improved performance lies in the rear tyre construction Michelin uses at the Red Bull Ring. The 10-turn circuit is known for generating extreme heat in the tyres due to the high frequency of hard accelerations. Michelin provides a special 'heat dissipation' tyre used only in Austria and Brazil—different from the similar tyre used at Buriram and Mandalika. "I think with this different rear tyre it doesn't push the front as much, and I don't have the big issues on the front I normally have," Binder explained. "So it gives me a bit more confidence just to go out and ride my bike."
Nevertheless, Binder admits that putting together a perfect lap at the Red Bull Ring is still no easy feat. The low-grip track demands high precision, especially in the downhill braking zone at Turn 4. "To be honest, I think there's a couple tenths there," he added. "But I think it's the same for everybody. It's hard to do this track like super clean because if you miss the braking marker by half a metre, you pay for it."
The Turn 4 braking zone was indeed a trouble spot for many riders on Friday. Johann Zarco (LCR Honda) ran wide twice after crashing in Practice, and Diogo Moreira also went wide there multiple times. Marc Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi had similar moments. But for Binder, that corner is actually a strength of the RC16. "Our bike's working really well into Turn 4 actually," he claimed. "To be honest, the strongest point we have is stopping. So I feel like we're stopping well and the bike's hooking up better than it ever has. So let's see if we can keep it going."
With this momentum, Binder hopes to use the extra free practice session to prepare for qualifying and the race. "I think it's going to give us the opportunity to work much better tomorrow in the free practice session," he said. "If we can put together a decent enough qualifying and see how we manage to race."
Friday's result is a positive signal for KTM at their home race. Acosta's dominance in both sessions plus Binder's direct Q2 passage show the RC16 has a competitive package at the Red Bull Ring. The challenge now is to maintain consistency throughout the weekend, especially against the Ducati challenge and other teams that are usually fierce in qualifying.
Baca Juga
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