In the adrenaline-fueled world of Moto GP, unexpected incidents can take center stage in the blink of an eye. The 2023 Catalunya Race witnessed not one but two heart-pounding moments in the first two corners of the opening lap with the most memorable involving the South African sensation, Brad Binder who found himself in a heart-stopping collision with the championship leader, Pecco Bagnaia.
Bagnaia suffered a massive high side after taking the hole shot, landing in the middle of the circuit with the chasing pack hot on his heels. Unfortunately, Bagnaia’s placement put him directly in Binder’s path leaving the South African with nowhere to go.
Binder said it was a huge relief to find Bagnaia in good spirits in the medical center after the incident. Brad had to change to his second bike after his bike was damaged in the incident and the race was red-flagged but had to retire with a technical issue after just three laps into the restart.
I went to see him at the Medical Centre and he seems hundreds. When I walked in there, I was not expecting to see him chilling. He seemed 100%" Binder told reporters after the race. “My only priority today was that I never hurt anyone. Of course, I hurt him but not hurt-hurt. It is what it is.
Brad admitted that it was not easy to cope with the incident mentally.
At the end of the day, it’s every rider's worst nightmare. To see someone there is scary. But to be the one who hits them is even more sh**t, to be honest
Binder said.
The trickiest part is to just get back on and carry on. The good thing is that I saw him move and I knew I just clipped his leg or legs. I don’t know. But I knew I got over enough to make sure at least I never hit him square.
Red Bull KTM team manager, Francesco Guidotti had this to say after the race
A dramatic day and the most important thing is nobody was seriously injured. A tough situation and a shame because Brad had a good feeling. The general picture is positive and our confidence remains high for Misano
Misano is next up on the Moto GP calendar and it is not clear whether Bagnaia will be declared fit to race.