After starting from the second row Brad Binder's Sprint Race ended early with an electronic malfunction.

Brad Binder's podium hopes at Motegi in the Japanese Grand Prix Sprint Race were ended early big a 'small electronic malfunction.

The South African rider had been back at the sharp end this weekend as he ended Friday as the fastest rider on track. Then he Qualified on the second row of the grid for the Sprint Race and the Grand Prix on Sunday.

After only three laps of racing around Motegi Binder had to return to the pits with the issue. The electronic issue was affecting the KTM RC16's engine performance resulting in the 29-year-old retiring from the race.

"It was cool to be on the second row and I got a decent enough start," Binder told MotoGP.com "At the beginning, I was just trying to figure things out, only a few laps in we had a small electronic malfunction. That was unfortunately my race over. But that is racing and luckily we have tomorrow to try again."

'Hopefully we can find another step' - Jack Miller

On the otherside of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing garage Jack Miller was the only rider to end the Sprint Race inside the points.

“Was happy enough at the beginning of the race, then kind of suffered a little bit,” Miller told motogp.com.

“Just the drop came earlier than I anticipated in the last runs. I don’t know if it was the cooler conditions, or whatever. But I was able to hold my position more or less to the last laps.

“Had a little fight with (Marco) Bezzecchi, but unfortunately I knocked him a little bit and allowed Alex (Marquez) though. But anyway, happy to get some points today and looking forward to tomorrow. Hopefully we can find another step and go with that next group. Franky (Morbidelli) and (Fabio) Di Giannantonio were there for the beginning of the race and it would be really nice to run that pace.”