1701 RF final

L o c a l H e r o e s
Gone Global!
2 0 1 6 S e a s o n r e v i e w
It was quite a year for SA riders racing overseas, many a title and races were won. We round up
all of them and let you know who was where in 2016. Words: Wayne Van Tonder
South Africans are known to be very
patriotic people. Whether or not
this is a true reflection of South
Africans is at times up for debate. Many
of us find ourselves wanting to leave our
beautiful country for various reasons, well
there is one very obvious reason, but let’s
leave that topic to the political journalists.
When it comes to our sport however, South
Africans truly are passionate people. We
back our national teams and athletes no
matter the outcome, even if we
can’t get near a Cricket World
Cup final. We as South
Africans know a thing or
two about Cricket, Soccer (Football, if you
are not American and call a sport you play
with your hands football because you kick it
once at the start of the game, well thought
out that is), Rugby (don’t ask me though, I
have no clue), Golf and a few other sports,
however there is a sport that is gaining
plenty of interest in our country, motorcycle
racing.
Okay, so it’s not as if motorcycle racing
is a new thing in South Africa. We have
a massive motorcycle community and
national racing has been around for many a
year. Of late it is getting more attention than
I can remember. This is not only down to a
dedicated few that are out there promoting
the sport, who’s efforts for the most part
are not rewarded as they deserve to be, but
down to some South African riders that are
out on the international scene showing the
world what a little country, at the southern
tip of the world, can do.
This has inspired me to shed some light
on the South African riders that are doing
just that, and have a look at what they
have achieved this season. I am continually
surprised at the amount of talent we have
out there. Let me introduce the men under
the helmets and review their 2016 seasons.
Our local heroes, gone global.
Brad Binder (Moto3)
Number: 41 Born: 08/11/1995
From: Potchefstroom
Bike: Red Bull Ajo KTM RC250 GP
How could I not start
with Brad? He is the most
recognisable South African rider
at this moment in time. Brad is
a household name throughout
the world for those who follow
motorcycle racing. This, if you
don’t already know, is due to
Brad’s brilliance in the Moto3 world
championship. Brad started off in
the national kart racing series and
was national champion aged eight.
He would move on to two wheels
at the age of ten. He went on to
race in the local scene before
being accepted to ride in
the Red Bull Rookies cup
in 2009. 2011 saw
another step up as
he replaced an
injured Luis
Salom at the
RW Racing
team in
the 125cc world championship.
Brad’s dedication and talent was
rewarded with a full time ride in
Moto3 with the team in 2012.
Riding a Mahindra, he went on to
capture his first Moto3 podiums, his
performances earning him a ride at
the Red Bull KTM Ajo team where
he is currently. 2015 was a break out
year for Brad as he finished sixth in
the Moto3 world championship with
four podium finishes.
2016
This past season saw him take
South Africa’s first grand prix victory
since 1981, and that victory came
from last on the grid! From there on
Brad was dominant and did not look
back. Brad had already started the
season off strong even before that
victory. He had been on the podium
in all three previous rounds. It
seemed as if the podium run would
come to an end in Jerez, round 4.
Brad was sent to the back of the
grid after being penalised for KTM
using an illegal mapping. That didn’t
stop Brad as he charged through the
field for the victory. (Sound familiar?
42 RIDEFAST MAGAZINE JANUARY 2017