Pit Beirer says KTM have now made one 2025 bike change that’s ‘exactly’ what Brad Binder needs

Add as preferred source on Google

KTM are days away from a huge decision regarding their MotoGP future and the start of the 2025 season.

The Austrian manufacturer enjoyed a positive pre-season, with tests at Sepang and Buriram helping new signing Pedro Acosta to settle alongside Brad Binder.

While Ducati are expected to have the bike to beat, KTM will be hoping that they can be their closest competition after finishing second in the manufacturers’ championship in 2024.

With the MotoGP season less than a week away, preparations are underway but they’ll need to await the results of a hearing regarding a company restructuring plan with creditors before taking to the track.

Pol Espargaro says KTM higher-ups have said the team will live despite their financial woes which surfaced in November.

Besides the words of the team, share prices offer a ‘clear indication’ about KTM’s future, indicating that they will be around for the next two seasons at least.

KTM made one MotoGP bike change which was ‘exactly’ what Brad Binder needed

The team were aware that they couldn’t rest on their laurels over the winter, or they risked plummeting down the order at the season-opening Grand Prix of Thailand.

The arrival of young Spanish star Acosta boosts their hopes, but development was focused on another rider during the off-season.

READ MORE: What potential KTM takeover means for MotoGP teams as Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder face nervous wait

Pit Beirer has admitted that changes to their bike have been exactly what Binder needed to feel more comfortable on their machine.

“Yes, that happened in part,” he told GPOne. “But it’s obviously an illusion to say ‘We’re going to let the bike slide properly, and that’s going to make us faster’.

“Today, you can no longer afford to let the bike drift mercilessly in every phase, from cornering, to braking, and accelerating, because drifting always means a loss of traction.

“But we’ve taken a step in the right direction in terms of development. Brad now feels more at ease. We’ve clearly improved in the areas of cornering, braking, and cornering speed. And that’s exactly what Brad wanted.”

How did KTM fare in MotoGP’s pre-season tests?

KTM didn’t set any headline times during the pre-season tests as they quietly went about their business, perhaps too quietly for their fans’ liking.

KTM faced a horrific issue after a media blackout, with rear tyre wear approaching dangerous levels on both bikes.

READ MORE: KTM have now taken ‘unprecedented’ step with MotoGP media at Buriram Test amid financial crisis

Acosta managed fourth on the second and final day in Buriram, just under three-tenths behind the factory Ducati of Marc Marquez.

It means that they can’t be too far from contention, but there is still work to do over a race distance if they want to make their tyres last.

Binder finished 12th on a somewhat more conservative run plan than his teammate at this early stage in the year.