Brad Binder and Red Bull KTM Ajo have renewed their contract at the Sachsenring, keeping the South African rider at the team and on the KTM Moto2™ bike for the 2019 season. It will be Binder's third year in the intermediate class, having first signed for the structure's Moto3™ team in 2015 before becoming 2016 World Champion and debuting in Moto2™ last year.
Binder has contested 59 races under the guidance of Aki Ajo, during four seasons. His record boasts a total of 7 wins in Moto3™, a further 14 podiums (3 in Moto2™ and 11 in Moto3™) and 6 pole positions in Moto3™. His dominance of the lightweight class in 2016 meant he took the title with 4 races to spare.
"The new agreement we have signed this weekend is fantastic,” says Binder. “I'm really excited to continue at Red Bull KTM Ajo for another year, making it five seasons with them! I feel that we still have unfinished business in Moto2, and great improvements to make, so I am very happy and it motivates me to have a whole factory supporting me again. That's what I wanted, because I'm very happy as part of this family. I really want to continue growing as a rider with them and achieve great successes. The goal is always to fight for the highest honours and I think we can achieve this. This year we had a difficult start, but I know we can be up there for the rest of the season. Now it's time to continue working hard this season and improve GP after GP."
"I am very happy that we can confirm that Brad will be staying with us for another year,” adds Team Manager Aki Ajo. “So far we have had a very successful relationship; this is our fourth season together and next year will be the fifth. We have never had a rider be part of our structure for so many years, so I am very happy. He is a rider with whom it is very easy to work, and I'm sure that he is one of the most dedicated in the paddock. He always wants to improve and that's the most important thing for growing as a rider. We are very pleased to be continuing with Brad and will try to finish this job that we started with him in Moto2 last year. With this great news, we have now finalised our Moto2 lineup for next season. It will be a season of many challenges, but with Brad and Jorge (Martin) we are sure we are ready to face them and overcome them. I want to thank Red Bull, KTM, all the partners and the staff once again for allowing us to continue growing this great project. Now we have to keep focused on this year and keep working hard, because we have more than half the season remaining and many goals to achieve."
The positivity continues for Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: "It is a great pleasure to be continuing with Brad as part of our team, because we have had many fantastic times with him, including winning a Moto3 World title. I think that the combination of Brad, Aki Ajo and us, KTM, is very strong and we can see that he is not a rider who is wild and over the limit, but who always wants to understand what he is doing. I think he is ready to take the next big step in Moto2, which will surely come now. I am very happy that this combination is staying together and this shows that we want to keep our people with us, because the riders are like our children and having them continue with us is our main objective. Next year we will have a new challenge with the introduction of the new engine supplier, and that motivates us all. I think that with Brad and Jorge (Martin) we will have a very strong team. Thanks to Aki we have had the opportunity to talk with the best riders in the world for the Moto2 project, because we have built a very strong team."