MotoGP, Darryn Binder and Yamaha, together for (at least) a year

The big step up. This might be one way to define Darryn Binder’s move from the Honda 250 single-cylinder to the Yamaha 1000 four-cylinder. Having now signed with the Iwata manufacturer, the South African will race in MotoGP in 2022, riding the prototype M1.

And he will do so with the renewed WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP team - now with new name and sponsorship - a "satellite" team compared to the Monster Energy Factory outfit and one that has already signed Andrea Dovizioso, future team-mate to the 23-year old who hails from Potchefststroom, a Dutch colony in the north-west of the country.

Younger brother to Brad, who rides the Red Bull RC16, he will emulate what Jack Miller did back in 2015 when he jumped onto the Honda RC 213V, having left the Moto3 KTM. And to think that the pair have never been rivals, having travelled similar but nevertheless different paths.

Darryn Binder: "A lifelong dream, I’m up for the challenge"

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The young South African is understandably very pleased: “I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity, as it has been a lifelong dream to race in the MotoGP category. I definitely didn’t expect to make the jump straight from Moto3 to the highest class.”

Darryn appears anything but nervous: “I do believe I’m up for the challenge, and I‘m ready to put in all the hard work for 2022. My target at the beginning will be just to find my feet in the big class and learn as much as possible to get stronger and stronger throughout my rookie season”.

And lastly, his thanks: "I would like to say a really big thank you to Yamaha and the RNF MotoGP Team for everything they have done to make this possible as well as everyone who has been involved in getting me to this point. I‘m now just looking forward to riding the Yamaha YZR-M1 for the first time at the end of this season”.

Translated by Heather Watson

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