Malaysian MotoGP: Darryn Binder down after ‘cool’ first lap, di Giannantonio having ‘less and less fun’

Rookies Darryn Binder and Fabio di Giannantonio made a synchronised exit from Sunday’s Malaysian MotoGP race.
Fabio Di Giannantonio Darryn Binder crash MotoGP race, Malaysian MotoGP, 23 October
Fabio Di Giannantonio Darryn Binder crash MotoGP race, Malaysian MotoGP, 23 October

The pair were holding 16th and 18th respectively when they lost control🐭 in separate accidenꦡts at Turn 5 at the midway stage of the Sepang race.

Binder began the race in style by carving from 24th and last to 12th on the opening lap. The South African felt he had resisted the temptation to push harder as faster riders re-passed but𒊎 was still caught out by tꦅhe ‘strange’ fall.

“I made up like 12 places in the fir♌st lap so that was cool,” said the RNF Yamaha rider. “Obviously I didn't have the pace to run there and the likeꦉs of Miguel [Oliveira] and Jack [Miller] came by me.

“I knew I didn’t have their p🥂ace, so I was just carrying on trying to hit my marks and keep as consistent as I could. And unfortunately then I went down. So really disappointed to crash out. It's super strange and what can I do?

“I crashed in Turn 5 on lap 11. Nothing different, came in and I tucked the front and while I was sliding I saw di Giannantonio sliding with me, so he must have followed me and done exactly t𒈔♒he same.

“I didn't expect to cr✃ash there and didn't do anything really strange. Not a nice way to end the r🔴ace.

Darryn Binder, MotoGP race, Malaysian MotoGP, 23 October
Darryn Binder, MotoGP race, Malaysian MotoGP, 23 October

“[Until then] the front was really stable in the fast corners. The thing that I was strugꦰgling with most in the race was to get it stopped in the slow corners.

“I think it wasn't only me because a lot of guys were running wide T1 and 15 and T9. But in the fast stuff I felt really good💎 and didn't feel l꧟ike I was asking too much when I crashed.

“But it is what it. It’s been a rough weeken🔯d and I'm glad it's done. Ready for Valencia!”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

di Giannantonio having ‘less and less fun riding my motorcycle’

d🅰i Giannantonio’s sixth non-score in a row left the y꧋oung Italian with some soul searching as he prepared to fly back to Europe, posting on Instagram:

“19th race of the season, the weekend trend is still the same. Unfortunately we don’t get better, we don’t solve problems, so we can’t be faster. The fact is that this season I've had less and less fun riding my motorcycle. But I’m not talking about the motorcycle itself eh, absolutely! Ducati MotoGP is the most extraordinary and incredible ride I've ever ridden and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to drive it.

“I had less fun and the results didn't come. Through it all what have I learned? Hey... I learned that the level in MotoGP is very high and you don't leave anything to chance, and then I think that the game is just this... working, hard, working really hard, planning, studying, analyzing, believing, trusting, thinking through everything, not neglecting any detail, being OBSESSED.

“Yes because in the end the question is... but you, are you OBSESSED? Because just by saying yes you can put yourself against the greatest of this sport. I'm in my thoughts at the airport, Valencia in two weeks, race I'll face with the mindset to do well, very well, as I always did. Then another chapter opens, who knows knows...

“Sorry for the long run just wanted to chat #MalaysianGP @gresiniracing”

H🃏owever, di Giannantonio, whose highlights so far this year include a shock home pole position at Mugello and eighth-place finish in G🤪ermany, later posted a more positive picture, saying “If the plan doesn’t work, change the plan NOT the goal’

di Giannantonio
di Giannantonio

The 24-year-old, who will remain at Gresini next season alongside new signing Alex Marquez, will get hꦕis first taste of the GP22 Du🦹cati at the Valencia post-race test.

Current ♓team-mate Enea Bastianini, also riding a GP21, finished a close second to Francesco Bagnaia at Sepang.

Binder, who ski♋pped Moto2 on his way straight from Moto3 to MotoGP this year, will race for Intact GP in the intermediate class next eason

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