Brad Binder takes a very impressive win at Jerez with Pecco and Miller on the podium

Aleix Espargaro started from pole position for the first time this season, the Aprilia rider made the best of the changing conditions in qualifying. Jack Miller was in second with Jorge Martin the top Ducati in third. Francesco Bagnaia sat in fifth place on the grid while championship leader Marco Bezzecchi headed the fifth row in 13th. Fabio Quartararo struggled all weekend with one lap pace and was down in 16th.

The lights went out and Espargaro took the holeshot but both Red Bull KTM’s in Miller and Brad Binder were first and second, there was a collision between Alex Marquez and Franky Morbidelli, Bezzecchi and Augusto Fernandez and all four riders were down!

Pecco Bagnaia had a solid start and managed to move into third place. The red flag was brought out due to the collision, all riders were eligible to restart and the race was declared to be 11 laps.

On the restart it was Binder who took the holeshot ahead of his teammate Miller, Martin and Pecco pushed Espargaro down to fifth. Wildcard Dani Pedrosa had a good start but had to sit up at turn one and dropped to eighth.

Martin went through on Miller at turn nine with Bagnaia looking to try and overtake his former teammate. Miguel Oliveira sat up Johann Zarco through the final sector and that allowed Pedrosa to move into seventh.

Miller and Martin battled on lap two through turns six to ten with Miller coming out on top. Pecco then pounced on Martin into turn 13.

Espargaro and Oliveira were trying to get up to the podium places but were scrapping with each other through turns one and two with Aleix getting on top. Pedrosa was the fastest on track; Miguel also had a track limits warning.

Miller took the lead off his team-mate at the final corner and tried to pull out a gap over the six riders behind him. Alex Marquez crashed at turn two, a disappointing end to a strong weekend. Takaaki Nakagmi crashed out at turn nine. Binder was holding off Pecco, braking as late as he dared.

On lap six, the group of seven became six as Aleix Espargaro lost the front at turn nine, that’s the Spaniards third crash in five races.

Martin attacked Pecco at turn five, but the Martinator could not hold the line and the Italian moved straight back into the podium place.

Binder went sideway passing Miller into turn six, but the South African could not hold it at the apex and the Australian took back the lead.

Binder tried again on lap ten, but this time around the outside and on the change of direction at turn seven Binder took the lead as they started the final lap of the race.

Miller out-braked himself into turn six trying to hold off Pecco and that allowed Pecco to take second place.

Brad Binder took his second sprint race victory of the season ahead of Francesco Bagnaia finishing in second ahead of Jack Miller in third.

Marco Bezzecchi finished in tenth and remained the championship leader on 65 points, three ahead of Pecco.

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