Brad Binder signed off his 2022 MotoGP pre-seas𝄹on testing at Mandalika on Sunday in 'a much happier place' ☂than he had finished last season.

Feeling there was still much to understand, an𓄧d more speed to unlock, from the existing RC16 package, KTM switched away from a brand-new 🅺2022 bike in favour of working on carefully selected upgrades.

With the best KTM, of Miguel Oliveira, only 15th fastest at the opening Sepang test, the tactic looked like it was ye🌞t to bear fruit.

But Mandalika saw a stronger performance, especially from Binder, who was third on a 'dirty' day one, then fastest for much of day two, until others opted for a late t♒ime attack.

The final day of testing again saw the South African finish 0.5s from the top,🐓 for eighth, but having made big progress with the medium rear tyre that is expected to be used for next month's Indonesian race weekend.

"We did one time attack in the morning and then we worked the rest of the day on the medium tyre, which I✱ really think is something thatꩲ we struggled a lot more with on in our bike in particular, me with it, just to feel confident with it," Binder said.

"And the more laps I did, the better we got and we improved the setting on the M tyre. In the end when we put the S in againဣ the bike worked completely differ🍸ent and it was much easier to improve the time and go fast with the S. But should we need to race the medium we are ready for it now."

"The bike's working better, I feel better and I think once we go out and we push in Qatar hopefully we can make up the little bit of a difference and get involved in the𒅌 front," addeꦦd Binder, who has been chasing rear traction since last season.

"🅘But so far, so good. Hat's off to the team. We've got a lot accomplished. I'm definitely in a much happier place with my bike than when I finished last season.

"Now I'm looking forward to heading off to Qatar, a track that will really test us, as we know from last year, so fingers crossed it works well th🤡ere."

Factory team-mate Oliveira was a fraction slower than binder, in twelfth on the final 🏅day.