Ducati “has a couple of percent in pocket” to use over MotoGP rivals

KTM’s Binder has made a strong start to the 2024 campaign, carrying forward his form from the end of last season, when he was a regular podium contender.

The South African finished runner-up in both the sprint and the grand prix in Qatar last weekend, and left the Losail event pleased with the step his KTM team had made from Saturday to Sunday.

While he still feels close to being able to win a grand prix again for the first time since 2021, Binder admitted in Qatar that it felt like Ducati’s factory riders had margin to play with in terms of pace.

“I think same as last year, we’re super close but we haven’t shown we can do it yet,” Binder said.

“For me, I feel like I’m a little bit pushing at one hundred [percent] all the time and I feel like they have a couple of percent in the pocket when they want to use it.

“So, I’m waiting for this last little bit of help and then we’ll try again.”

Binder hasn’t won a grand prix since the 2021 Austrian GP, when he famously stayed out on slicks on a wet track in the final laps to claim a heroic second premier class victory.

KTM has had to go without a grand prix victory since Miguel Oliveira’s Thailand GP success in 2022, though Binder did win two sprints last year.

Despite this drought, Binder remains convinced KTM has the ingredients in place to allow him to soon return to winning ways.

“I think that having people like that behind me, it is only a matter of time before we find the key,” Binder said of KTM winning again.

After his strong start to the 2024 campaign in Qatar, Binder comes into this weekend’s Portuguese GP sitting second in the championship and just two points from standings leader Francesco Bagnaia.