Brad Binder explains what he must now do to ‘make the leap’ to catch KTM teammate Maverick Vinales

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KTM haven’t exactly enjoyed a dream start to the 2025 MotoGP season, but they still find themselves third in the constructors’ standings.

The Austrian manufacturer has been hit by financial woes and a lack of bike development, but the Grand Prix of Spain yielded their best result of the campaign so far.

Three of their bikes finished in the top seven and within 10 seconds of victory in Jerez, with Brad Binder picking up his best result of the season in sixth.

It seems that after struggling at the flyaway races, KTM’s bike may be more suited to Europe’s slower and tighter tracks. With upgrades hopefully on the horizon, the situation should only improve.

Binder was ‘lucky’ to avoid disaster in Qatar and was about as uncomfortable with the RC16 bike as he has been all year before heading to Jerez.

Just a few events in, Mat Oxley feared KTM had a ‘massive problem’ and they are finally showing signs of recovering from their struggles.

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

Brad Binder needs to find ‘extra pace’ to beat Maverick Vinales during the 2025 MotoGP season

Binder has a difficult gig in 2025, being the teammate of KTM’s upcoming star Pedro Acosta, but he has performed slightly better than him so far.

Only once in five races has he beaten him on track, and the South African’s blistering consistency is shining through as ever. Without his COTA retirement, he would have four top-eight finishes in five races.

Speaking after the Spanish Grand Prix, Binder was still downbeat about his situation, despite having a solid race.

“The tyre deteriorated dramatically. But strangely, the lap time remained exactly the same,” he told Speedweek.

“I never had that extra pace. I have to work on that if I want to make the leap and catch up with Maverick and them.”

READ MORE: Herve Poncharal explains why Pedro Acosta is already better than Brad Binder at KTM

Are KTM in MotoGP trouble again after key staff decision?

KTM’s factory was placed on leave before the Spanish Grand Prix and bike production halted just a month after it had started again.

Their MotoGP team work from the same location, and it would be naive to think that they will be completely unaffected by the move.

It couldn’t come at a much worse time either, with KTM finally beginning to gather some momentum and speed.

They will hope to find even more performance during Monday’s first in-season test of the season at Jerez and propel themselves closer to contending with the Ducati bikes.