What Brad Binder needs to do to become MotoGP’s Rookie of the Year

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South African Red Bull KTM Rider Brad Binder heads into the final Premier Class Grand Prix of 2020 on the brink of sealing MotoGP Rookie of the Year status.

What Binder needs to do in Portugal to become Rookie of the year

Binder’s fifth-place finish at the Valencian Grand Prix moved him up to 87 World Championship points and he is the only rookie in the field to have claimed a win this season. He holds a 20 point advantage over Honda’s Alex Marquez while the third rookie in the field Iker Lecuona has been ruled out of the race following his positive test for the coronavirus, and is out of the running for the honour.

Marquez needs to win the Portuguese MotoGP to stand any chance of scooping the Rookie of the Year honour. While the brother of eight-time world champion Marc, has shown great race pace at times this season, he also suffered a vicious highside at the Valencian Grand Prix. While he was medically cleared to race he struggled and finished outside of the points which gives Binder a big advantage.

Binder can clinch MotoGP’s Rookie of the year with a top ten finish at the Algarve International Circuit on Sunday 22 November, the six points on offer for tenth place would be enough to pip Marquez even if he wins the Portuguese Grand Prix. 

Watch: Marquez’s brutal highside

What Binder needs to do to become MotoGP’s Rookie of the Year

Binder has put in a rookie season that shows a great deal of promise and given the full support of his team could possibly propel Red Bull into the MotoGP championship discussion in the near future.

Suzuki rider Joan Mir was crowned MotoGP world champion at the Valencian Grand Prix on Sunday 15 November.

MotoGP Championship standings

Pos. Rider Bike Nation Points
1 Joan MIR (C) Suzuki SPA 171
2 Franco MORBIDELLI Yamaha ITA 142
3 Alex RINS Suzuki SPA 138
4 Maverick VIÑALES Yamaha SPA 127
5 Fabio QUARTARARO Yamaha FRA 125
6 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati ITA 125
7 Pol ESPARGARO KTM SPA 122
8 Jack MILLER Ducati AUS 112
9 Takaaki NAKAGAMI Honda JPN 105
10 Miguel OLIVEIRA KTM POR 100
11 Brad BINDER KTM RSA 87
12 Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati ITA 78
13 Johann ZARCO Ducati FRA 71
14 Alex MARQUEZ Honda SPA 67
15 Valentino ROSSI Yamaha ITA 62
16 Francesco BAGNAIA Ducati ITA 47
17 Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia SPA 34
18 Cal CRUTCHLOW Honda GBR 29
19 Iker LECUONA KTM SPA 27
20 Stefan BRADL Honda GER 18
21 Bradley SMITH Aprilia GBR 12
22 Tito RABAT Ducati SPA 10
23 Michele PIRRO Ducati ITA 4
24 Lorenzo SAVADORI Aprilia ITA
What Binder needs to do to become MotoGP’s Rookie of the Year

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