The South African was just behind Johann Zarco's Ducati when he collided with Franco Morbidelli's Yamaha with the riders driving at full speed. Zarco and Morbidelli were sent flying, as their bikes continued, becoming potentially fatal projectiles.
"Honestly, I'd rather not even think about it," he admits. "You know bikes probably still go over 200 km / h, and a bike weighing 185 kg flying at almost 200 km / h, if it hits anyone I think we all know how it could end. "
Binder says the risks of the race are still there.
"It's a danger that everyone knows, that we just try to keep in mind and not think about. Unfortunately, the only way to do this job is to approach it this way. worry about the situation. the risks and things that might happen, i don't think you can ever do this job for a living. "
Roller coaster week
Binder finished fourth after the restart of the red flag race, an impressive feat from 17th on the grid. It capped the weekend's roller coaster weekend for the man born in Potchefstroom, South Africa's North West Province.
Seven days earlier, Binder became the first South African to win a premier class race, at the Czech Republic GP in Brno, only competing in his third MotoGP.
The victory was also KTM's first-ever MotoGP victory, and Binder was the first rookie to win a race since Marc Marquez's first GP of the Americas victory in 2013.
"It has been absolutely fantastic," he says. "I don't think we expected it so soon, especially for my third Grand Prix. Honestly, it was a dream come true, something that you are working on to make your entire motorcycle racing career successful."
Rugby and cricket
Binder and his family moved to Krugersdorp, just outside Johannesburg, when he was 10 years old. He admits that motorsport is not something typically associated with South Africa.
"Of course when you think of sport and South Africa you think of rugby and cricket or something like that," he said.
"When I was younger and started racing in South Africa it was a lot busier, there was a lot of racing there and a lot of support but things calmed down a bit, but it's slowly coming back. "
The rookie's success was well received at home.
"It's really cool, because the news has really exploded at home," he says. "I have to say South Africans are always fantastic to support anyone in sport, and especially theirs, so it's been great to see all the support I've had."
Homesick
Covid-19 presented an additional challenge for Binder and his younger brother Darryn, who races in the Moto3 class.
"It's really difficult at the moment with South Africa's borders being closed," Binder explains.
"It's almost impossible for us to get home. After the race this weekend we have two weeks off and it would have been great to have shot home and caught up with friends and family for a week and come back . But unfortunately the situation is at the moment, we will stay here. "
He admits to being a little homesick.
"South Africa in general is an amazing place for sure. Most of South Africa, I don't really know how to explain it, it's just my home, you know? is this place I go and know exactly how it all works.
"It's just amazing to go back to the places where I grew up and see all of your friends and everything I've done all my life. It's all of those things. Hope everything will return to normal soon.
Life on the road is nothing new to the Binder brothers, however.
"We both spend most of our time in Europe and have been doing it together since 2014," he says.
The former Binder has been racing in Europe since 2011, winning the Moto3 title in 2016 and finishing just behind Alex Marquez in last season's Moto2 Championship.
When not in competition, he is often found honing his skills in Spain.
"The good thing about Spain is that there are a lot of different tracks and it's really good for training," he added.
"The weather is also nice. Spain is always a place I try to return to if I cannot return home."
A different beast
Despite his nine years of racing experience, Binder admits the switch to MotoGP has been daunting.
"A MotoGP motorcycle is a whole different beast than a Moto2 motorcycle, you have more than double the horsepower and the bike is actually even lighter so it's really hard to figure that out at first. Every time I get on the bike, I feel more and more comfortable, "he says.
This year's KTM looks like a formidable package and a serious challenger for other factory teams. The arrival of Dani Pedrosa, Marc Marquez's former Honda team-mate, as a test rider is widely recognized for turning the team into contenders.
"I actually took a ride on the 2019 bike late last year," Binder explains. "When I got on the 2020 motorcycle in Malaysia you could feel it was a huge step forward, much, much better and a lot easier to ride too. KTM worked hard, Dani worked too unbelievably good. "
Worryingly for the rest of the field, Binder sees this upward trajectory continuing.
"It's great to see this huge progress, and in general I think there is more to come," he added.
For now, exile Binder is focused on his early success in this weirdest MotoGP season.
A return home visit would certainly be welcome, but he admits he keeps a little taste of South Africa with him.
"I try to keep some biltong on me - but it's not always easy to find!"
