Brad Binder ended a three-race streak without points for KTM with a steady performance at the Italian Grand Prix.
The South African rider currently sits 13th in the MotoGP standings, which would be his worst result since arriving at the premier class level.
Binder has had to show a lot of patience with his team as they fight to secure their future. Winter financial woes didn’t leave them in the best position heading into the new season.
But, KTM are now back on track and their pace appears to be picking up again on track. Pedro Acosta in particular, has been impressively consistent for the factory outfit.
Binder is ‘demanding’ one thing from KTM and wants to see a bigger push from their factory after visiting them a few weeks ago.
It came just days before a KTM chief admitted Binder had lost ‘confidence’ since the start of the year. He just hasn’t been his usual self.
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Binder is doing something ‘never’ seen by resetting quickly and delivering again after making mistakes in 2025.
For all he hasn’t quite been able to deliver the results, his confidence hasn’t taken a hit, and he doesn’t want it to either.
Speaking on TNT Sports at the Italian Grand Prix, Neil Hodgson shared sympathy for the 29-year-old and his poor run of form in 2025.
“I feel sorry for Brad, [he] lost his way at the start of the season, had quite a lot of crashes,” he said. “Seemed like every time he raced that bike, it was different.
“There was some different configuration of it, just trying to get that, they talk about balance a lot. Just trying to get the right balance, rear grip as well has been an issue. Has not looked himself at all.”
READ MORE: Pit Beirer says KTM have now made one 2025 bike change that’s ‘exactly’ what Brad Binder needs
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Although ninth may seem an underwhelming result for Binder at Mugello, he did finish just half a tenth behind his teammate.
As has been the case often this season, Maverick Vinales on the Tech3 had been the fastest rider all weekend before he was taken out of the race by Franco Morbidelli.
The factory riders were still on task and delivered two top 10 finishes, but the factory team continues to await their first podium of the season.
With 13 more races to go, it feels like a case of ‘when’, not ‘if’. But they do need to connect the dots if they want some silverware. It isn’t going to come easily.
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