Mandalika Circuit Changed Significantly, Brad Binder Confident Showing Good

Brad Binder (Instagram @bradbinder)

JAKARTA – KTM racer Brad Binder spoke about the conditions across the Mandalika Circuit. Indonesia's pride track is considered to have experienced significant changes.

Brad Binder will start the Mandalika MotoGP race from fourth place on Sunday, March 20. It became his best qualifying result in the MotoGP class in his career.

"Today was a bit difficult for all of us. Because the track conditions changed significantly compared to the February test," Binder said as quoted by Speedweek.

Binder finished last season in sixth place in the final standings. This season he appeared to be improving and managed to finish in second place during the first series in Qatar so that he still occupies the second place in the points standings.

This could be a sign for Binder with the Red Bull KTM team at the Mandalika race today. They look very much ready to race 27 laps on the 4.3 kilometer circuit even though the temperature on the track is expected to reach 42 degrees and the asphalt surface can heat up to 72 degrees.

"I'm really struggling on the track and we still have some homework to do for the race. So far we don't have a suitable answer. I don't know what we should do to solve this problem," said Binder.

"But I feel good for the race. I'm pretty confident. I was expecting a tough race. It's really hot, but I feel really good on the bike. I never feel like I have to work too hard physically," he continued.

The Mandalika track has been a disaster for six-time world champion Marc Marquez. The Spaniard has recorded four falls on the track.

Most recently he had a terrible accident in the warm-up session on Sunday, March 20. In the footage he can be seen flying through the air due to a highside at Turn 7 with one minute remaining.