Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli echoed to the sound of MotoGP for the second time in two weeks as the series put round fourteen of 2024 in the record books for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jack Miller classified 16th and Brad Binder tumbled out of top four contention to place 19th. Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Celestino Vietti won a brilliant Moto2™ race.
There was no sign of the rain that briefly created mixed conditions at the San Marino Grand Prix two weeks ago. Misano shone in late summer sun for its second stage of 2024 MotoGP and for the Emilia Romagna fixture that represented the penultimate European date on the current calendar.
The riders and teams were already well versed with the 4.2km trajectory and 16 turns of the mostly flat Italian layout and Red Bull KTM came through the Sprint on Saturday with Brad Binder earning a top six result. The South African made another strong start from 4th on the grid but before the pace could settle Brad lost traction in Turn 4 and slipped away. He managed to remount and complete the race in 19th.
Miller meanwhile had been trying to grab places and recover ground from P19 and was brilliant to reach 10th in the opening stages. The Australian then found the limit of his potential and found his way across the line in 16th.
Brad is 5th in the standings. Miller is 15th. The Mandalika Street Circuit and Motegi mean long trips for MotoGP in successive weeks now for Grands Prix in Indonesia and then Japan. After a one-week pause another triple will ensue with trips to Australia, Thailand and Malaysia.
Jack Miller, 16th: “I got away to a decent start but by the third lap I reached my maximum pace and that was all I had. Then we had a vibration issue. I tried to have a push a couple of times but I almost fell off more than once. We have some work to do. It was a hard day and a bit disappointing. We tried some things to fix it this weekend but we need to go back and have another look to find the maximum of the tire and try to improve.”
Brad Binder, 19th: “I felt pretty good in warm-up and we made a little step from yesterday. I knew if I wanted to do anything here then I had to go with the boys early on. That’s what I tried to do and hang with their speed but unfortunately I washed the front at Turn 4. Sorry to my team for the mistake because we could have had a decent result. My goal is to fight in the top three and that’s what I wanted to do. We’ll try again next week.”
Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Brad was there at the beginning and things were under control until the crash. It means we were close to the limit so we have some work ahead. Jack also made a strong start but also had some contact with other riders and lost time running off-line. His feeling wasn’t too bad but we still need to look well at his race and set-up. We’ll hope for better in the overseas.”
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