(Reuters) – Former MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi believes KTM may be a true contender for the 2020 world championship title and said Brad Binder’s victory at the Czech Grand Prix proves how far he has come.
Rookie Binder, 25, claimed his first MotoGP victory in Brno on Sunday and the KTM team may have had two riders on the podium if his South African teammate Pol Espargaró crashed.
When asked at a virtual press convention thursday before Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix if KTM could win the championship, Yamaha’s Rossi replied: “YesArray …why not, because its improvement over last year is impressive.”
The result in Brno kTM’s first win since debuting full-time in 2017.
“KTM has made a great effort in its MotoGP program.Already in Jerez they were competitive and in Brno, I think that without the fall of Pol, they could have come first and second,” Rossi added.
“They are very strong, they are the favorites here … They have at least 3 pilots who are in great shape and who are flying hard.So you can fight for the championship for sure.
Binder said he’s looking ahead to take the Red Bull Ring track in Austria, where rain is forecast this weekend.
“It will be wonderful to see the rainy situations again, I look forward strangely,” added Binder, fifth in the race rankings led by Fabio Quartararo.
“It’s a vital weekend for Red Bull and KTM, your home Grand Prix, it’s going to be great to have a smart weekend for them, but it’s vital to keep your feet on the ground, reboot.
“I need to continue just like I did the previous weekend and just check to have a blank weekend in general.”
Reporting through Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Edited through Christian Radnedge
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