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

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.

“The 2025 season was the most challenging year I have ever had on a motorcycle, to say the least,” Binder said during a media press conference.

“It was an uphill battle from the beginning, and it seemed to get a little bit easier at times. We had a bit of momentum going, but I never quite had the speed I was looking for. Unfortunately, it was a really challenging year, and I am looking to turn it around in 2026.

“The tougher things got, the harder you try. Each time you go out, you try as hard as you can. Whether it goes your way or not, your goal is always to win.

“I am doing my best to find my way back to my best, and fingers crossed it happens sooner rather than later.”

Binder also revealed that he has used the off-season to reset mentally and physically, welcoming the opportunity for a fresh start after the disappointments of last year.

“Going into the 2026 season, everything starts fresh again,” he continued.

“We had a very challenging year last season, not just myself but KTM in general. This year we are going in with everything revamped and restarted, with new energy again.

“I started training again on the 15th of December. I’ve tried to build a really strong fitness base, and as we get closer to testing and racing, I’ve been riding as much as possible.”

Despite the setbacks, the 30-year-old believes the struggles of 2025 have provided valuable clarity, allowing him to focus on specific areas for improvement ahead of the new season.

“When it was time to wrap up the 2025 season and I could make my way back home, it became really clear to me what I needed to improve.

“I need to find extra speed, be faster over a single lap and qualify better, which will help me tremendously. I was qualifying so far back, and even though I would make a comeback during the race, I couldn’t get back to where I needed to be.

“Priority number one is to fix qualifying and find a bit more pace in that area. From there, we need to find more comfort on the bike, but that is something we seem to have already found, and I feel more comfortable with the front end of my motorcycle.”