The factory KTM rider, who was rewarded for his brilliant 2023 campaig♌n thus far ♚with a new MotoGP deal that takes him until the end of 2026, was every bit the match for Francesco Bagnaia during the early stages of both the sprint and Grand Prix in Austria.

However, after🐻 a few laps the South Afri🦄can began to slowly drop back as Bagnaia was able to hold his pace more consistently. 

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Bagnaia’s plan was clear, which was to hold onto the lead and avoid tyre pressure problems, whi🌄le Binder had to settle for second as the world champion made sure he kept the lead after improving his race s🎐tarts.

"For sure, they have made a small step wi💖th their launch," said Binder. "The launch is one thinไg, but when they pick up the bike and start shifting through the gears they are somehow making more grip than us. 

"When we have the brand new tyre I feel 𓆉like they have nothing on us. But the second we lose that tiny bit of grip I start to spin when I’m shiftinꦆg. 

"I🔯 keep losing a tenth or two in the hard accelerations."

While the Austrian MotoGP was one of Binder’s strongest of the season, the 28-year-old🏅 admitted he had hopes of winning in front of his manufacturer’s home crowd. 

Binder stated: "I came here with the in𒉰tention to win. There would have been nothing nicer than to win theಞ home Grand Prix for all of us. 

"But two second’s and a front row; I’ll take it any day. I felt good! I can’t tell you how good a job my t♈eam has done. 

"They’ve been working past 10 o’clock 🍸every night to find the last little bit that we possibly could. I need to sa𒉰y a massive congrats to them. 

"Congratulations to Pecco, he did a great job. He didn’t put a foot wrong. I tried my best to go ꧟with him but there w🍸as no chance. He just had that little bit extra."