A first grand prix win is special enough, but Brad Binder claimed his debut victory 🦹under the most unlikely of circumstances, having been demoted to 35th and last on📖 the Spanish Moto3 grid after 'non-homologated ECU software' was found on his KTM after qualifying.

The software issue seems to have been a mix-up over the file name, rather than the actual contents of the map. Either way it left the world championship leader with a mountain to cཧlimb going into the race, which he would finish as the first South African rider to win a GP since Jon Ekerold in 1981...

Q:
Did you ever imagine that your first win would 🦋come in the way that it did?

Brad Binder:
"I had imagined that my first victory would be difficult to achieve, but I did not think I'd get it from last on the grid. I knew there was a possibility of doingꦰ it, because I had been very strong all weekend, but actually managing it was incredible."

Q:
What went through your head when y💛ou crossed the finiꦦsh line?

Brad Binder:
"At first it was ha✤rd to believe. Not only because it was my first win, but because of how I did it. Once I got back to parc ferme I only thought about celebrating with my family. I have to thank my family, Red Bull KTM Ajo and Aki Ajo. It was nice that my parents could be there at Jerez too. I have no words to thank them for all the effort they have put in to ma𓃲ke this possible. It was incredible."

Q:
Starting from last on the grid, what position would you hav🧸e settled for at the beginn🥃ing of the race?

Brad Binder:
"Although people may not have believed in our chances, I must say that I was very sure of myself and of the team, and I knew I could win the race. Throughout the whole weekend we did a great job, going fastest in every session except FP1 and qualifying, and showing great pace. The night before, I could only sl♈eep for 3 hours because of how nervous I was about the possibility of fighting for my first win. After warmup, with the sanction, things got more complicated, but we knew we could do it and we were prepared."

Q:
What does it mean to be the first South African to get a wi💃n in 35 yearꦬs?

Brad Binder:
"It was a great day for me, and I am very happy about it. Not just for me or my team, but also I hope it was a great day for my country. I receive great support from there and although it took a long time to get this first victory, to do it this way was spectacular♔."

Q:
Talk us through the race...

Brad Binder:
"I began to prepare on the warmup lap, where I looked at how to ride the first lap -which was very important. In the end I did not have a great start, but I pushed my hardest. The first three laps were𓃲 very difficult, but I had a great time. We were riding at a slow pace and had around 25 riders all taking different lines. My brother almost k🐟nocked me down! [laughs] I am lucky that one of the strengths of the KTM is braking, and that helped me a lot to quickly catch the second group."

Q:
Did you not think at any time that fini🅘shing in that group would be a good result because of the circumstances?

Brad Binder:
"I found it hard to escape from that group, but I had a faster and steadier pace -and I also saw the front three pulling away, so I put my head down and pushed. I gradually 🐬c🐬ut the distance and caught them."

Q:
When did you see that you could take victory?

Brad Binder:
"Once I was up with the lead group, it took me a few laps to analyse my three rivals and see their strengths and weaknesses, but when I saw my crew members excited on the pit wall and my lap times, I knew I could go half a second faster. With 5 laps to go, I decided to esc꧅ape."

Q:
Were you afraid of making a mistake after having done🍸 an extraordin🌟ary job?

Brad Binder:
"When I caught the front group it was time to make sure not to do stupid things, like pushing beyond the limit. That was clear. But I saw that I was givinꦛg 80% and had more left. It wasn't about taking a risk; it was about putting iꦜn 100%."

Q:
It was a slower race than previous years. Why do you think t൩hat was?

Brad Binder:
"I think it was a little slower than usual because the asphalt wore out tyres a lot. After the first four laps, my rear ty🤪re was already worn, but then it kept the same condition. I could have completed ten more laps and the tyre would have been the same. That may be one reason."

Q:
And now, having 🌺taken your first win and being the World Champions༺hip leader, how are you planning the rest of the season?

Brad Binder:
"The whole Red Bull KTM Ajo team are doing a great job. The team are providing me with a bike that works incredibly well, and I feel very comfortable. The first victory has taken a weight off my shoulders because it was hard to get, but now I hope that more arrive soon. There is still a long way to go this season, so we must𒁃 continue in the same way. "