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South African Brad Binder has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the MotoGP world, after rapidly climbing the ranks through Moto3 and Moto2.

His full range of skills, as well as a healthy dose of bravery, was on display during yesterday’s Austrian Grand Prix.

The sport’s official website calls it “undoubtedly the wildest race we’ve ever seen” as heavy rain in the final few laps caused havoc.

While many of the riders decided to switch tyres in light of the wet conditions, Binder remained on the track, and was rewarded with a truly memorable victory.

With four laps to go, Binder took the gap:

The top six – Pecco, Marc Marquez, Quartararo, Martin, Mir and Binder – were now locked together and struggling to keep it on the road. Five of the riders then peeled into pitlane for the wet weather bike swap, Binder didn’t.

Unbelievable scenes…Binder and co. were producing God-like skills to keep their machines on the road…

Binder, somehow negotiating a treacherous 4.2kms, was well into the final sector as we saw Bagnaia and Martin carve their way past Rossi, Aleix Espargaro, Marini and Lecuona in Sector 3 on the final lap, before we panned back to see Binder unbelievably round the final corner, crank open the gas – gently – to take the chequered flag in P1. Simply unreal.

MotoGP’s official YouTube channel has all of the key moments, but you’ll have to click ‘Watch on YouTube’ to be redirected.

From the 3:10 mark below, you’ll see Binder make the call to stay on the track:

This video features the entire final lap, with Binder showing incredible skill to navigate the twists and turns on wheels that were far from ideal:

When he joined his team after the chequered flag, it must have been a mixture of elation and relief that swept over him:

One of the great gambles in #MotoGP history!!! 👏

Pure bravery, pure brilliance from @BradBinder_41 to claim victory on slicks! 🔝#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/Dp5YbseO5k

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 15, 2021

We may not have heard our national anthem all too often at the Olympics, but look how chuffed Binder was yesterday:

Sooooo proud! @BradBinder_41 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/UdNenLeKfZ

— Ron G (@RonaldWG) August 15, 2021

Speaking after the race, and the celebratory spraying of the bubbles, Binder said the ending “was really scary… the last two laps were something else.”

More from SuperSport:

“I could push quite hard still for the first lap but as soon as the rear and front tyres cooled off it was like riding on ice.

“A couple of corners later my carbon brakes went cold so I had no brakes either. I think there was someone holding me up there today because there were a couple of times where I thought it was over.”

Binder said he had been all set to dive up the inside of the leaders at the second to last corner when he sensed they were about to pit.

As soon as he saw them do so, his mind was set and he went straight on.

The win moves Binder up to sixth in the MotoGP standings, with 11 races completed.

Fabio Quartararo remains well out in front, but for the next few days, the South African is the toast of the MotoGP world.

[sources:motogp&supersport]