Moto3: Binder takes advantage for frantic pole position

Brad Binder has taken advantage of crazy conditions in Phillip Island to take pole position for tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix, taking the top spot from Fabio Quartararo and Nicolo Bulega.

Bulega had been early favourite for the top spot, until he crashed taking evasive action around fellow VR46 Academy rider Francesco Quartararo, touring on the racing line. However, he was given a second chance when a crash for Juanfran Guevara brought out the red flags with only four minutes remaining, setting up a frantic few final minutes.

But with difficult conditions all day, Binder admitted afterwards that it had been a hard day even before the crazy end to the session.

“In the morning the feeling on the bike was very good, but maybe I have lacked a good adaptation to the conditions. In the afternoon everything was a little better. The conditions were very bad when we left the pits, as it was raining hard and we had to come back in for wet tyres. When we went out again it was almost completely dry, so we did two laps and lost a lot of time due to the conditions.

“When we rode with slicks for the second time I only put in a few laps, to improve my feeling, and after the red flag I tried to put myself in a good position to get a clean track. Although there were many riders around me, I was able to get pole, and I’m happy with that.”

It was a good day for Scotsman John McPhee as well, topping free practice three in the rain before showing that he had pace in the dry as well by ending the day in a strong second row spot between Gabriel Rodrigo and Livio Loi.

 

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