Brad Binder gets new MotoGP crew chief as KTM win the race to sign ‘excellent’ engineer

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Brad Binder’s KTM crew will no longer be led by Andres Madrid in 2026, according to a report. Madrid has worked with Binder for 10 seasons, but the team have opted for a refresh.

Binder says he hasn’t enjoyed the 2025 season, having slipped outside the top 10 in the championship. He’s currently on for his lowest finish since his rookie year.

The South African remains the brand’s second-highest scorer, but that was perhaps the minimum expectation given that he’s spent his entire career with KTM, whereas Tech3 duo Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales were newcomers.

And while Binder has started every single event, Bastianini has missed two races and Vinales has missed eight. As his rider faces a first campaign without a podium, Pit Beirer has decided that a change is needed.

KTM sign Phil Marron to work with Brad Binder in 2026

Toprak Razgatlioglu wanted to bring Phil Marron with him to Pramac, having made a blockbuster move from the World Superbikes championship. But Yamaha refused the request.

Marron has helped Razgatlioglu win both of his WSBK titles, but Pramac will partner the Turkish rider with Alberto Giribuola instead. Giribuola has left Enea Bastianini’s side to take the role.

• READ MORE: Enea Bastianini gave a ‘leave right now’ ultimatum to Toprak Razgatlioglu’s 2026 Pramac crew chief

The expectation was that Northern Irishman Marron would stay at BMW and work alongside new signing Miguel Oliveira, who has effectively swapped seats with Razgatlioglu. But now Speedweek report that he’s reached an agreement with KTM to become Binder’s new crew chief next year.

It’s unclear what this means for the future of Madrid. It’s possible that he will fill the vacancy next to Bastianini, staying within the company.

Why Pramac didn’t let Phil Marron stick with Toprak Razgatlioglu

One source connected to Razgatlioglu told Autosport that Marron is ‘excellent in the psychological department’. His loss could be Binder’s gain.

Marron last worked in MotoGP in 2016 alongside then-Aspar rider Eugene Laverty before following him to WSBK. Yamaha didn’t think it would be ‘productive’ for Razgatlioglu to be guided by someone who lacks recent experience of Grand Prix racing.

Razgatlioglu says he doesn’t have the ‘status’ to force Yamaha’s hand, but suggested that he hoped to reunite with Marron in the future. That now looks less likely.

Binder has spent 2025 experimenting, to no avail, so this radical shake-up could be exactly what he needs to revive his career.