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- The Binder brothers, Brad and Darryn, competed together in the 2022 MotoGP season.
- Brad secured three podium finishes in 18 outings.
- Darryn made his MotoGP debut this year, but will drop to Moto2 in 2023 to garner more experience.
The 2022 MotoGP season was a tough one for the Binder brothers. The two South Africans, Brad and Darren, waved a racing career in Mzansi goodbye as they sought the challenge and opportunities presented in Europe.
And while both competed in the 2022 season - a dream they've been chasing together - the hype was a far cry from the reality of the situation. Not because they were not good enough, no, but because of the unique challenges an uncompetitive bike presents.
For Brad (27), who's been a MotoGP Red Bull KTM rider since 2020, the year was not what he had hoped. Still, he kept his head down and raced to three podium finishes this past season. He also finished inside the top 10 in 14 of the 18 races. Definitely consistent, but the bike's performance potential wasn't enough to challenge for the win.
"I have to take my hat off to the team. I have the most amazing crew behind me. There are some crazy and incredible people at KTM," the Red Bull KTM rider said after the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix in Spain.
"We've had some great times this season and some really hard times, too, but we have always managed to give our absolute best come race day. It's good to be top six in the championship, for sure."
Going back to go forward
For brother Darryn, 2022 was his first and only season in MotoGP. The South African made headlines in late 2021 when it was announced that he was drafted into MotoGP from Moto3, skipping Moto2. He and the WithU RNF Yamaha team had plenty of ambitions for the past season, but it failed to live up to the hype.
Darryn's best result was finishing 10th in a rain-hit Indonesian GP, and he could only muster 12 points throughout the season. Given how poorly the season turned out, RNF Yamaha opted to terminate its agreement with the younger of the two Binders, with the 24-year-old dropping down to Moto2 - the series he skipped en route to MotoGP.
He will race for the Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact Moto2 team next year, and hopefully, it'll prepare him better for an eventual return to MotoGP.
"It has been a cool year and I really enjoyed every moment of riding the MotoGP bike, and I can't thank everybody enough who was part of this year with me and thanks for the great opportunity," he said.
"I had an amazing team, and they supported me all the way until the end, and I am grateful to them and to everyone who supported me. I am now looking forward to my new adventure."
The 2023 MotoGP season increases from 18 races 23, with the action kicking off on 24-26 March in Portimao, Portugal.
