Points for Darryn Binder at the #BritishGP but Lukas Tulovic goes unrewarded
In completely different conditions to qualifying, the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto2 team completed the 17-lap race at the Silverstone Circuit, with Darryn Binder celebrating a world championship point, while team-mate Lukas Tulovic finished directly behind in 16th position.
The start to the ninth Moto2 race of the season was extremely precarious for Lukas Tulovic, as the German only narrowly escaped a mass crash in front of him, which meant the end for a total of four riders. Unfortunately, the number 3 rider lost momentum as a result and had trouble getting back into his rhythm quickly. A large gap opened up in front of him, but the 23-year-old fought valiantly to regain the points positions. From lap nine to fifteen, Tulovic moved in 15th position, which would have secured him a World Championship point. But last year’s European champion did not count on his team mate, who was within striking distance and took advantage of Tulo’s small riding mistake.
Darryn Binder, for his part, received a long-lap penalty for a contact with local hero Jake Dixon, who crashed as a result. Considering the race situation, this was a harsh penalty for the South African, who had already been taken out of the race twice this season through no fault of his own by other riders. Nevertheless, he completed his penalty without any problems, fought his way back thanks to his pace and took up the chase of his teammate. The 25-year-old stalked ever closer and took the opportunity two laps before the end of the race to snatch 15th place and with it the last championship point up for grabs.
Both riders from the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto2 team learned a lot from this changeable Silverstone weekend and the IRTA test scheduled for Monday will provide further insight and progress that they can take with them to the Austrian Grand Prix, which takes place from the 18th – 20th of August at the Red Bull Ring.
Lukas Tulovic
P16 – (+29.556)
Moto2 World Championship 2023 – P21 – 6 Points“For this difficult weekend, the result was somewhat reconciliatory. There was a lot of chaos in the first corners, actually in the entire first lap. I had a good start but was pushed wide in the first corner, which probably saved me from being wiped out a few seconds later. I got a few crash parts in the front wheel, then thought I had a flat tyre in the course of the first lap. The bike felt rebalanced and jumped in some places. I don’t know what it was, but it went away, thank God. I was on my own from then on, after Darryn had done his long lap. I had a clear path to the front and made sure that I rode my rhythm and did clean, consistent laps. Shortly before the end, I made a mistake in turn 3. I slammed on my brakes and had to ride over the crash parts that were still lying there. That cost me a lot of time, so Darryn was able to catch up again. In the end, unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for the last World Championship point, but after this treacherous weekend, it still feels like damage limitation. Now we’ll see what we can find tomorrow at the test here in Silverstone, and then hopefully in Austria, on a track I’m more familiar with, we can start further from the front.”
Darryn Binder
P15 – (+29.061)
Moto2 World Championship 2023 – P19 – 13 Points“Not the best race today. I suffered from the contact with Jake, which from my point of view was a pure racing incident. There was no way for me to see him on the outside. I don’t even know how he got there because it’s not the place for a pass. It was definitely not my intention to touch him and I can’t shake the feeling that I was punished for my past rather than for today’s incident, in which I absolutely could not have done anything differently. But, I got a penalty, served it, and rode to bring the bike home after that. I’m happy that we’re testing tomorrow, so we have a chance to work on some things and improve.”