The first-ever Indian Grand Prix in MotoGP history was a significant event not only for the racing community but also for the fans and the country itself. Here’s a summary of the main points.
India Moto GP Key Points
- Indian Grand Prix at Buddh International Circuit: The event was a massive success, with Brad Binder of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing finishing in 4th place. He was a major highlight for the team and the fans, especially those from India.
- Brad Binder’s Performance: After securing 4th place in the Saturday Sprint, Binder had another impressive top-four finish in the main race. He also had a notable battle with Joan Mir in the final laps to secure his position.
- Jack Miller’s Struggle: The race was a challenging one for Miller, who was searching for grip on the KTM RC16. Despite these challenges, he managed to finish in the 14th position.
- Buddh International Circuit’s Debut: The circuit received positive feedback regarding its presentation, organization, and functionality. With a massive crowd of 58,000 fans on Sunday, the event marked a successful introduction of MotoGP to India.
- Moto3 and Moto2 Races: Daniel Holgado had an impressive run in the Moto3 race, moving from 18th to 4th position. In Moto2, Pedro Acosta continued his dominant season, sealing his sixth victory.
- Race Conditions: The race was held in high temperatures and humid conditions, a stark contrast to the rainstorm that impacted the Saturday Sprint.
- Binder and Miller’s Start: Both racers made impressive starts on Saturday, and on the main race day, Binder had a strong start, despite some contact. Miller faced challenges from the beginning, running wide in the initial laps.
- World Championship Standings: Brad Binder is in 4th position, while Jack Miller is in 9th. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ranks 4th in the Teams list and 2nd among the Constructors.
- Next Race: The MotoGP paddock will move to the Twin Ring Motegi for the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, which is the fourteenth round of the series.
Quotes
Brad Binder, 4th: “I gave absolutely everything I had today. It wasn’t quite the result we were hoping for but coming back from 12th to 4th was quite decent. Two 4th places mean it has been a solid Indian GP for us. We worked as hard as we could to maximize what we had for today. The bike felt good but I think we were just struggling a bit more than we anticipated to get out of the slower corners. It is clear what we need to improve for the future and hopefully for Japan.”
Jack Miller, 14th: “Not too high, not too low this weekend. I struggled today. I didn’t have the grip I needed from the get-go both front and rear. I could carry any corner speed at all. I had a bit of contact into Turn 1 as well, which wasn’t ideal and then tried to make up too many positions in one go on the second lap. It was an uphill battle from there and our pace wasn’t anything like Saturday. It is a bit of a head-scratcher. Fingers crossed we can work on what we found out this weekend and what we tried at the Misano test for Motegi.”
Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Team Manager: “Another solid race for Brad. He had a good start but was hit in the first turn and lost a few positions. His pace was enough to fight for the top five. We couldn’t make the best of the technical package here so to come away with two 4th places means we have to be happy. Of course, we should be more in front but the result today was OK. Being on, or as close to, the podium is our seasonal target and while you can always want better now-and-then we have to be happy with a 4th.
Unfortunately for Jack he could not repeat that good race from Saturday. He was complaining about grip and also had some mistakes under braking. We have a few days to check the data from today and to try to be faster. We go to Japan with confidence after the performances last year and some references.”
Results MotoGP IndianOil Grand Prix of India
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati 36:59.157
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati +8.649
3. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) Yamaha +8.855
4. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +12.643
14. Jack Miller (AUS) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +31.324
World Championship standings MotoGP
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 292 points
2. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati 279
3. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati, 248
4. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 192
9. Jack Miller (AUS) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 109
The inaugural Indian Grand Prix showcased the growing popularity of MotoGP in India and the potential of the Buddh International Circuit to host world-class racing events.
