South African motorcycle racing has never been stronger on the world stage, with three talented riders competing across MotoGP’s three categories. This past weekend in Argentina, all three—Brad Binder in MotoGP, Darryn Binder in Moto2, and debutant Ruché Moodley in Moto3—delivered solid performances, each finishing in the points and reinforcing their place among the world’s best
Brad Binder Battles to Seventh in MotoGP
Brad Binder, South Africa’s leading motorcycle racer, showcased his resilience at the Termas de Río Hondo circuit. Despite starting from 11th on the grid, the Red Bull KTM rider pushed hard to secure a commendable seventh-place finish. While the result was a step forward from the season opener in Thailand, Binder struggled to match the dominant Ducati riders at the front.
“I’m happy because I gave absolutely everything I had from the first lap. Also happy to get some points after what happened yesterday,” Binder said, referring to an unfortunate sprint race incident where he crashed out following contact with Franco Morbidelli.
Binder remains optimistic, acknowledging the team’s need to improve rear tire grip to challenge the front runners more consistently. With 19 points in the championship, he currently sits seventh in the standings as he looks ahead to the next round in Texas.
Darryn Binder Claims Strong Sixth in Moto2
Meanwhile, in Moto2, Darryn Binder made a strong statement in Argentina. After a challenging season opener in Thailand where he failed to score points, the younger Binder brother bounced back with an impressive sixth-place finish.
Starting from eighth on the grid, Binder made early moves up the order but admitted to pushing too hard in the opening laps, which cost him some rear grip towards the end. Still, the Gresini Moto2 rider held his ground, securing a valuable haul of points that lifted him to 12th in the championship standings.
“Happy with how things went today. I didn’t get the best of starts, so I really had to push quite hard in the beginning. I may have used too much of the rear tire early on, and at the end, I was just struggling to hang onto that podium battle. But overall, I’m happy and feeling good—looking forward to Texas,” he said.
Ruché Moodley’s Steady Growth in Moto3
The newest South African name on the international stage, 18-year-old Ruché Moodley, continues to impress in his debut Moto3 season. Following a remarkable 11th-place finish on debut in Thailand, the BOE Motorsports rider faced a new challenge in Argentina, competing at the Termas de Río Hondo circuit for the first time.
Qualifying in 19th place, Moodley endured a tough start, dropping to 23rd after the opening corners. However, the young South African showed remarkable composure, fighting his way back up the field and finishing in 15th, earning another championship point.
“We had a solid weekend, gained lots more experience, and have definitely closed the gap to the front guys,” Moodley reflected. “I lost a lot of time in the opening laps but pushed really hard to recover. By pushing so hard, I sadly destroyed my back tire, so I had to nurse the bike home in the final laps.”
Moodley now sits 15th in the Moto3 standings with six points—an impressive feat for a rider only two races into his world championship career. His debut in Thailand two weeks ago had already turned heads, with his mature and strategic ride to 11th place marking him as a rising talent in the fiercely competitive Moto3 class.
Looking Ahead to Texas
With all three South African riders making their mark in Argentina, attention now turns to the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on March 30. For Brad Binder, the focus will be on closing the gap to the leading Ducatis, while Darryn Binder aims to build on his momentum in Moto2. Meanwhile, Moodley will continue his learning curve, looking to build on the experience gained in his first two Grand Prix weekends.
South Africa’s presence in MotoGP is stronger than ever, and with three riders representing the nation across all categories, fans have plenty to look forward to in the 2025 season.
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