Watch Brad Binder's Rise To MotoGP Stardom In This Red Bull Documentary

From South Africa to MotoGP, Brad Binder is on a meteoric rise. Red Bull has been there most of the way to watch his progression.

Begin press release:

As the MotoGP season heads for its three-race back-to-back climax, the new film ‘Brad Binder: Becoming 33’ tells the exceptional story of the young South African motorcycle racer who became both his country’s and Red Bull KTM’s first-ever MotoGP winner in his rookie season.

Binder, the 25-year-old from just outside of Johannesburg, burst onto the MotoGP scene in 2020, claiming a historic victory in the third round of the season in Brno, Czech Republic.

At the time, little was known beyond racing circles about the young outsider shaking up the grid in a sport usually dominated by Europeans. Now the story of Binder’s rise to the very top is being revealed in a new feature-length documentary.

Brad Binder said: “My first season in MotoGP has been full of ups and downs but I’ve really enjoyed it, and to top it off with this documentary coming out is super cool.

“When I was younger I was always searching online for documentaries about riders and other sportspeople, so it’s insane to think that I have my own. It’s been nearly 10 years of filming with Red Bull, from the Red Bull Rookies Cup all the way through to this season – I’m sure there will be things in there that even I’ve forgotten, but I’m really looking forward to seeing it!”

Starting out his racing career in karts, Binder was a national champion aged just eight, before moving to two wheels and being accepted into the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2009 at 14.

But with early success came sacrifice for the Binder family, as mother Sharon moved to Europe to support Brad’s dreams while father Trevor stayed with younger brother and fellow two-wheel racer Darryn.

By 2012, Brad had reached Moto3 but wasn’t considered a podium contender until an incredible charge from last to first saw him claim his debut Moto3 win at the Grand Prix of Spain in 2016, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Under the guidance of Red Bull KTM’s Aki Ajo, Binder became Moto3 World Champion, graduated to Moto2, and took 5 wins in the 2019 season to claim his place at the summit of MotoGP, taking on a new race number of 33 to echo his initials.

‘Brad Binder: Becoming 33’ features family interviews and archive footage starting right back where it all began with his childhood in South Africa, catching up to the present day with the Binder parents, proudly supporting their MotoGP star from the other side of the world due to the global health pandemic.

The film also contains insights from Aki Ajo and renowned MotoGP commentator Matt Birt, who says of Brad; “when he is in full flow it is spectacular to watch. Poetry in motion, one of the greatest sights you will see across all of MotoGP.”

The documentary available exclusively on Red Bull TV from November 5. The best viewing experience for the film is on the Red Bull TV App.

Film Facts

Year of production: 2020
Length: 52 minutes
Watch the full documentary on RBTV.