KTM rider Brad Binder determined to bounce back after toughest season of his career

Brad Binder endured a difficult 2025 MotoGP season but believes lessons learned will fuel a comeback in 2026 Photo: Red Bull Red Bull KTM rider Brad Binder is determined to turn the frustration of a difficult 2025 MotoGP campaign into a more positive and competitive 2026 season after struggling to build on his previously strong form. It was a year to forget for the South African, who ended the season in 11th place with 155 points — a staggering 152 points adrift of teammate Pedro Acosta, who enjoyed a strong breakout campaign to finish fourth after stepping up from the Tech3 team. With his contract set to expire at the end of the upcoming season, Binder heads into 2026 under significant pressure.

Much of his struggles last year were attributed to difficulties extracting performance from his RC16 bike, particularly a lack of outright pace that left him unable to consistently challenge the front runners. Qualifying proved to be a major challenge throughout the campaign, with the South African repeatedly starting deep in the grid and being outqualified by Acosta on most occasions. The disappointing finish came off the back of a strong 2024 season, where Binder ended fifth overall.

It marked the first time since 2020 that he finished outside the top ten, with his results over the previous four seasons ranging between fourth and sixth. Speaking ahead of the season opener, set to take place in early March at Thailand’s Chang International Circuit, Binder reflected on the difficulties of 2025 but remained optimistic about what lies ahead.