The rider, who has won two MotoGP races, managed a third-place qualifying effort in Japan, giving him his first-ever front-row start in the top category. Binder led the pack momentarily on the opening lap before dropping to third, but he managed to climb back up by passing Jorge Martin toward the end of the race, securing a second-place finish that tied his best result of 2022.
This was Binder's first time on the podium since the opening round in Qatar, providing a bright spot in a season where KTM has generally lacked stability and form. At 27, Binder currently sits in sixth place in the standings, leading his KTM teammate Miguel Oliveira by 42 points. Looking ahead to 2023, KTM is aggressively hiring technical experts from Ducati and utilizing its ties with Red Bull to develop aerodynamics at the F1 team's facilities. Consequently, Binder sees his Motegi success as a catalyst for improved results in the future.
Before the Motegi event, Binder had only managed one top-five qualifying position throughout 2022. He joked about the experience, noting how much more relaxed it is to head into the first turn when starting from the front row. The KTM rider expressed immense pride and satisfaction with the weekend's results, admitting he desperately needed some high-quality laps in dry conditions. He noted that it took about 10 to 15 laps of racing before he fully regained his rhythm and rediscovered his braking and turn-in markers.
Binder acknowledged that he struggled with several errors early in the race, partly because he lacked confidence in the grip of the soft tyre. Despite these initial doubts, the South African continued to push hard and fight for position, eventually cruising into a secure second place.
Binder is hopeful that this result is a precursor to more success. He took a gamble by using a soft rear tyre that he hadn't tested during the weekend, a strategic move he credits entirely to his team. He admitted that the specific tyre choice was a leap of faith since it hadn't been trialed before the race started.
Ultimately, Binder expressed total confidence in his crew, noting that the team had done the necessary groundwork regarding tyre selection. He trusted their analysis, believing that their strategy was sound and would not lead to a failure.