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Binder: Starting last made debut Moto3 victory "sweeter"

Last weekend's Moto3 winner Brad Binder said his maiden Grand Prix victory at Jerez was made even more special by the fact he took it from last on the grid.

Podium: winner Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Ajo

Podium: winner Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Ajo

Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Winner Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Ajo
Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Ajo
Podium: winner Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Ajo, second place Nicolo Bulega, Sky Racing Team VR46, third place Francesco Bagnaia, Aspar Team Mahindra
Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Ajo
Winner Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Ajo
Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Ajo
Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Ajo

Despite qualifying second, Binder was relegated to the back of the grid because of a non-homologated ECU software.

He carved his way through the field nonetheless, overtaking 31 bikes in just nine laps and then taking the lead with six to go on his way to becoming the first South African winner of a Grand Prix motorcycle race since 1981.

"It was so sketchy trying to come through the field, and when eventually I got to the front group I just decided to sit there for a couple of laps and then see how it was," explained Binder.

"I knew I could probably be a good 0.5s quicker than the guys so I just put my head down with five laps to go and tried to go into the distance."

"I knew even starting last with my rhythm I could definitely fight for a podium. Today is a great day for me for my country and I cannot thank my team enough. Just starting last made the first victory sweeter."

Breakthrough after chassis change last year

Binder has been a full-timer in Moto3 since 2012, but the 20-year-old only collected two podium finishes in his first three years.

He added a further four to his tally last year on his way to sixth in the standings in his first year with the Red Bull-backed Ajo team.

He was on the podium in the three opening races of 2016 before finally earning his maiden victory, at Jerez, and now leads the championship by 15 points over Jorge Navarro.

"The step really didn't come over the winter, it came at the end of the last season when we brought in a new chassis and since then I've been really shining in all the races," Binder added.

"This year it just all came down to hard work, in the off-season I didn't really take a break, training the whole way through so I'm in the best possible condition I can be.

"My team is incredible, such great people around me that makes life a lot easier."

Additional reporting by Jamie Klein

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