Ricky Cardus will be filling in for Red Bull KTM Ajo rider and reigning Moto3™ World Champion Brad Binder in Texas, after the South African underwent further surgery last week. Binder took a heroic P9 and his first Moto2™ top 10 at Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina, but found the plate in his arm had moved and the break - sustained during private testing in November - would require another operation.
NEWS: @BradBinder_41 undergoes successful surgery#Moto2 ???? https://t.co/3Ia2G12sMU pic.twitter.com/sVUhATnPzY
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) 14 April 2017
Cardus is a Moto2™ veteran and has also played an important role in the development of the new KTM Moto2™ chassis as test rider – including some test sessions earlier in the season in place of the injured Binder. After the chassis took its first pole position and podium in the Argentina GP, the Spaniard will be aiming to get up to speed quickly as he shares the box with Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira – and can count on previous top ten form at the Circuit of the Americas.
Ricky Cardus: “I am very happy to be able to enjoy this opportunity, although I am sad that it comes about because of the injury to Brad Binder -a great rider and World Champion for whom I have a lot of respect. I wish him a speedy recovery. This weekend I have to take advantage of this GP to enjoy a bike that I know well. I know more or less where we can get the best out of it, and it has the potential to be in the top positions. I am taking this weekend as a few days in which to help the team, as I am one of the test riders and we must continue to evolve the bike. I will fight and do my best to get a good result. I want to thank the whole team at Ajo Motorsport, KTM and Red Bull for thinking of me. I’m looking forward to starting the GP already!"