Tensions ran high at the Silverstone racetrack on Sunday when it started to rain during the British MotoGP.
At that stage, the current world champion, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) was still in front, but he was involved in a fierce four-way battle with Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia), South Africa’s Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia).
In the pits, the teams stood up with wet weather bikes in case it started to rain worse.
Additionally, there were major concerns about Binder who thrived in wet conditions and would certainly have the upper hand if the track got wetter.
But it continued to rain lightly as Espargaró raced past the checkered flag first, with Bagnaia second (+0.215s), Binder third (+0.680s) and Miguel Oliveira fourth (+0.750s).
Only 0.750 seconds separated the foursome.
Binder was second behind Bagnaia at one stage, but he was overtaken by Espargaró, who forced Bagnaia out of first place in the 11th turn of the last lap.
Binder, who started tenth after once again failing to set a fast qualifying time, was ninth in Saturday’s sprint and then lost his fourth place in the championship standings.
But after Sunday’s third place, he moved up to fourth again (131 points) behind Bagnaia (214), Jorge Martin (173) and Marco Bezzechi (167).
Bezzechi fell on Sunday and was unable to finish the Grand Prix. So are Enea Bastanini (Ducati Lenovo), Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda), his younger brother Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda).
Binder’s teammate, the Australian Jack Miller, was first shortly after the start, just like in Saturday’s lightning race.
But he ended up finishing only eighth.
