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Brad Binder

Photo: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP

South African Brad Binder has set a new record in top speed in MotoGP. In the sprint in Mugello, Italy, he drove 366.1 km/h with a strong tailwind, replacing the previous record holder Jorge Martin. Martin was measured at 363.6 km/h at the same place last year.

Since the introduction of MotoGP, twelve of the 16 records have been achieved at the Mugello circuit. Binder had already set a record of 2021.362 km/h in 4 before he was trumped by Martin.

Binder became world champion in Moto2016 in 3, missed out on the Moto2019 title by just three points in 2 and has been riding for Red Bull team KTM in MotoGP since 2020.

World champion Bagnaia wins

This year, he is fourth in the overall standings after finishing the race at Mugello in eleventh place. Victory went to World Champion Francesco Bagnaia. The Ducati rider prevailed over his compatriot Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati) and Martin (Spain/Ducati). Bagnaia thus extended his lead in the overall standings ahead of Bezzecchi ahead of the main race of the 6th of 20 rounds of the premier class in motorcycle racing on Sunday.

Johann Zarco (Spain) and Luca Marini (Italy) completed the five-fold victory for Ducati. Jonas Folger (Schwindegg/KTM), who is standing in for the injured Spaniard Pol Espargaro in Italy, crossed the finish line in 21st place.

ast/Reuters/dpa