Foggia ‘so sad’ after being taken out by soon-to-be MotoGP rider Binder

LeOpard rider Dennis Foggia has called Darryn Binder’s move to MotoGP ‘strange’ after the South African ended the Italian’s hope of winning the Moto3 title with a collision.

Robert Jones

09 Nov 2021

Dennis Foggia, Moto3 race, Algarve MotoGP, 7 November 2021
© Gold and Goose

Dennis Foggia has called into question Darryn Binder’s move to MotoGP following more reckless riding from the South African.

During Sunday’s title deciding Moto3 race, Binder made a move on Sergio Garcia at turn three to begin the final lap, before completely misjudging his braking and wiping out Foggia ahead.

The Italian, winner of three of the last six races heading into Portimao, led the majority of this race too and needed to take victory in order to prolong the title fight as Acosta was second.

In fact, Acosta made his way into the lead at the same turn three on the final lap, an overtake that eventually brought him the win and championship.

But for Foggia, it was a devastating end to his season and one that left him ‘so sad’.

Foggia said: "I’m so sad. Unlucky, unlucky race and also unlucky last lap. But, I’m happy about my world championship.

"I know that in the last part of the season I was the best. So, I’m happy but also not so happy because we would like to win the championship.

"It’s difficult, I lost the championship not because of me, but because of another rider. I know when Pedro [Acosta] passed me in the first sector I was so relaxed because I was a little bit better in the last sector.

"For sure, I would go through to attack: also maybe I would crash but I would attack.

"Finally, I finished second in the championship and now we will see next year. I gave my best and that’s all I can do."

Straight after the race Binder was seen walking to the LeOpard garage in order to apologise to Foggia, however, the team was quick to dismiss the South African.

Binder, who has always had a knack for wild and sometimes dangerous moves, will be moving to MotoGP in 2022, a move made to look even more bizarre after Sunday’s incident.

Foggia touched upon this and called it ‘strange’ that Binder has been given such an opportunity.

"It’s so strange because this rider [Binder] will be a MotoGP rider next year, I don’t understand, but it’s like this," said Foggia.

It’s worth pointing out Binder’s results have also not been that of what you’d expect for an incoming MotoGP rider as he’s failed to reach the podium since Qatar.