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Enea Bastianini has just done two things for KTM that Brad Binder keeps failing to this season

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KTM have endured a largely frustrating time so far in 2025, but Brad Binder amplifies the Austrian crew’s woes more than any rider after a 53.1% drop in his points scored.

All four KTM pilots have seen a drop-off in their points scored through 12 rounds in the 2025 MotoGP season compared to 2024. But Binder has endured the biggest drop-off year-on-year, having earned 145 points at this stage of last term yet only 68 points so far this season.

Pedro Acosta, the only other rider to remain on a KTM from 2024 into 2025 after moving up to join Binder in the factory line-up, has only seen his tally decrease from 148 as a rookie at GASGAS Tech3 to 124. He has also out-qualified Binder for all 12 Grands Prix so far this year.

Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini also have 69 and 49 points since they joined Tech3 on works KTM contracts following their respective departures from Aprilia and Ducati. The pair boasted 139 and 228 points after 12 rounds last year, before they jumped on the KTM RC16.

Brad Binder sits in the KTM garage during qualifying for the 2025 MotoGP German Grand Prix
Photo by Mark Wieland/Getty Images

Enea Bastianini and Pedro Acosta’s Czech podiums ‘instilled confidence’ in KTM’s project

Mat Oxley doubts Binder is KTM’s ‘golden boy’ anymore, too, after seeing the South African struggle throughout the term with Michelin’s rear tyre. He is also one of the riders who has crashed the most often with his 13 – trailing only Johann Zarco and Joan Mir with 15 so far.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Enea Bastianini from net worth to career stats

Binder has even now seen Acosta and Bastianini reach the rostrum, while his best finish this term remains P6 in the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez in April. Acosta finished the Czech Grand Prix in P3 after he also finished the Sprint at Brno in P2 ahead of Bastianini in P3 with Tech3.

Bastianini was also in the fight for the podium in the Czech GP until the 27-year-old crashed shortly after overtaking Ducati star Francesco Bagnaia for P4. Still, his performances at Brno and what Acosta achieved ‘boosted’ KTM’s morale and ‘instilled confidence’ in their project.

That is according to AS, which reports that Acosta and Bastianini refreshed KTM’s optimism going into the summer break ‘at a time of decline’ for the Austrian crew. Their results in the Sprint at Brno were especially in contrast to Binder’s results in Sprint Races so far this term.

KTM Tech3 rider Enea Bastianini celebrates his podium in the Sprint Race at the 2025 MotoGP Czech Grand Prix
Photo by Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images

KTM rider Brad Binder has not finished higher than P6 in a Sprint Race in 2025

Binder has only earned points in three of the 12 Sprint Races so far this season, having taken P8 in the Thai Sprint, P9 in the Aragon Sprint and P6 in the German Sprint. Acosta has taken points in eight Sprints, Vinales has taken points in five and Bastianini has now scored in one.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Brad Binder from career stats to wife

Sprints have seldom been Binder’s strong point. But his struggles in the shortened dash will be one area where KTM will want to see a clear improvement in the second half of the term after Acosta and Bastianini’s performances during the 10-lap race at Brno earlier this month.

In particular, Bastianini reaching the rostrum after the Sprint at Brno will leave KTM wanting more from Binder. Since joining Tech3 this year, Bastianini has struggled to adapt to the KTM RC16. Yet the Italian secured a podium finish to take his first points in a Sprint Race this year.