Binder takes charge at Australia MotoGP as Bagnaia misses top 10 / Photo: Paul CROCK - AFP
-
الأصدقاء الخياليون: كيف تعزز الكائنات غير المرئية القدرات العقلية للأطفال والبالغين
-
Rene Eyre Revisits Autobiographical Performance 'Say A Little Prayer' in London
-
London Museum Granted 24/7 License Ahead of November Opening
-
UAE's HCT Holds Record Graduation and Announces Major Training Expansion
-
Dana White Confirms Flight to Washington for Trump Meeting on Press Secretary Role
-
NASA Awards $10B Lunar Contract Framework to SpaceX, Blue Origin
-
Dengue Fever Expands Into High Himalayas as Climate Change Warms Nepal
-
Katy Perry Tells Fans Ex-Husband Russell Brand 'Should Be in Jail' During UK Concert
-
IoT Refrigerator Hacks Disrupt Blood Labs and Supermarkets Across Europe and US
-
South African election results renew debate over identity-based voting
-
Post-election pressures complicate US and Israeli decisions on Iran
-
South African voters report smoother local election but declining IEC trust
-
UN members approve talks on treaty protocol against environmental crime
-
Dolly Parton museum and Nashville hotel open after singer’s death
-
Family-run West Sussex beach café prepares for first winter season
-
George and Amal Clooney attend New York political-comedy reading
-
CT scans reveal health and burial clues from Egypt’s Braided Lady mummy
-
British buyers pay substantial premiums for period-home appearance
-
Oxford faces complaints over lecturer’s classroom attire
-
Thomas Markle released to house arrest after child-abuse-image charge
Binder takes charge at Australia MotoGP as Bagnaia misses top 10
KTM rider Brad Binder produced a scorching late lap to stamp his mark on the Australian MotoGP with the fastest time in second practice Friday, as championship leader Francesco Bagnaia finished outside the top 10.
On a fine day ahead of a forecast wet and windy weekend, the South African blitzed the picturesque Phillip Island circuit with a best lap of one minute and 27.943 seconds.
That was just shy of the 1:27.767 record Spain's Jorge Martin set last year on his way to pole.
World title contender Martin was fourth fastest on his Pramac Ducati, 0.279 behind, with Binder's fellow factory KTM rider Jack Miller second and Aprilia's Maverick Vinales third.
But it was a miserable day for Bagnaia, who struggled for pace and could only finish 11th, 0.699 adrift, meaning he will need to fight his way through Q1 on Saturday.
The top 10 times from Friday's second practice automatically qualified for Q2 and will be joined by the fastest two riders from Q1 to determine the first five rows of the grid both for Saturday's sprint race and Sunday's main event.
Among others relegated to Q1 were former world champion Marc Marquez, who crashed on turn 10, and last year's winner Alex Rins.
Reigning world champion Bagnaia is currently 18 points ahead of Martin in the title race with five legs of the 20-stop season left after winning last week's Indonesian grand prix when his key rival crashed out.
Binder was quick all afternoon in Australia, owning the fastest lap of 1:29.365 for almost 40 minutes before Gresini Racing's Fabio Di Giannantonio went a fraction quicker.
That signalled a switch to soft rear tyres and a slew of fast laps with the lead repeatedly changing hands before Martin clocked 1:28.299 to seemingly take control.
But Binder, Miller and Vinales had other ideas and all responded, with the Spaniard having to settle for fourth.
In a change of format since the mid-season break, the first practice on Friday had no bearing on Saturday's qualifying order, leaving riders and teams to try out different bike and tyre set-ups without consequence.
In that session, Martin topped the timesheets ahead of Augusto Fernandez and Vinales, with Bagnaia 11th.
Z.Ramadan--SF-PST
