Marco Bezzecchi
Factory KTM riders Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta have had a frustrating 2025 campaign thus far as the struggle to find performance from the RC16.
The former finished as the highest-ranked KTM rider in fifth place in the standings in 2024 with one podium. However, in 2025, Binder has only finished in the top 10 five times as the season reaches the halfway point.
The South African rider and his KTM colleagues have struggled to find the right balance on the bike. It has led to numerous crashes and inconsistent results, with Binder sitting 12th in the standings with 60 points, 39 behind his teammate Acosta.
Binder was the only KTM rider to finish at the German Grand Prix as he kept his bike on the track to finish seventh. Tech3’s Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini did not even start the race due to a qualifying crash and appendicitis respectively, while Acosta crashed on lap four.
It has been no secret that the KTM riders are not happy with the current state of the RC16. Binder and Acosta demanded action from the factory to fix the bike, but the pair now seem to have adopted different approaches to their issues.
Brad Binder is now looking at what ‘we can do’ rather than ask KTM for upgrades like Pedro Acosta
After the German GP, Acosta again demanded upgrades from KTM, stating that they must arrive before the test at Misano in September. However, as journalist Adam Wheeler noted on the Paddock Pass Podcast, Binder is not looking at technical updates anymore.
He says that the 29-year-old is more focused on ‘what we can do’, rather than searching for solutions to the bike’s problems. It comes as KTM are trying to calm down their riders’ frustrations.
“Red Bull KTM on their side and the work with Aki Ajo, who’s been in place as team manager and overseeing that project for only half a season, not even that,” said Wheeler.
“He’s trying to calm the whole thing down at KTM that the sense of panic that the results aren’t coming and make everything a lot more systematic.
“Brad Binder was talking a little bit about this today to us in the press saying that we’re not testing as much and we’re focusing much more on what we can do, rather than scurrying around for technical solutions and getting confused taking one direction and coming back.
“There seems to be a lot more of a single kind of line and you can tell that just by the configuration of all the KTM RC16s now.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Brad Binder from career stats to wife
Brad Binder is still fully motivated to improve his form at KTM
KTM may have held an ‘internal conversation’ with Acosta over his despondent attitude towards the manufacturer in media debriefs. They have told him to ‘make the best’ out of his current situation, which Binder may have now realised with his new approach.
Crew chief Andres Madrid says Binder can ‘reset and deliver’ like no other rider in MotoGP as he strives to improve his form. Binder has lost confidence in the Michelin tyre in 2025, but he remains fully motivated for each event.
Registering a best result of sixth at Jerez, the South African has been some distance away from competing against Acosta. Binder ‘doesn’t know’ why he is struggling at KTM this season, but he is clearly not looking to give up easily.
The 29-year-old is still a talented rider in MotoGP and is capable of scoring strong results. This new approach could be what he needs to get out of first gear at KTM in 2025.
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