Neil Hodgson says Brad Binder has ‘lost his way’ after what he saw in Malaysian Grand Prix data

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Brad Binder was the lowest-placing KTM rider during the Sprint race in Malaysia, and Neil Hodgson spotted something in his data that suggests he has ‘lost his way’ in MotoGP this season.

The South African rider is currently experiencing his worst season in the premier class.

With no podiums to his name thus far, he is currently languishing in 12th place in the riders’ standings, registering nearly half of KTM teammate Pedro Acosta’s points tally in fifth.

Binder was ‘very close’ to losing his factory KTM ride for the upcoming 2026 MotoGP season, with it being reported that he ended up keeping his seat due to the injury-stricken season that Maverick Vinales has experienced with satellite team Tech3 in the current campaign.

It remains to be seen whether the Austrian constructor will retain the 30-year-old’s talents in the future. Binder’s contract expires at the end of 2026, meaning he will need a stark change in results next year to be in with a chance of keeping his factory rider status.

READ MORE: MotoGP Sprint race results as Francesco Bagnaia wins in Malaysia ahead of Alex Marquez

Brad Binder was lapping a lot slower than the other KTM riders during the Malaysian Grand Prix Sprint race

After securing a season-best finish of fourth place in Indonesia, Binder felt like the result was a ‘changing point’ for the woes he has battled in the premier class this year.

A fine performance in Australia followed, where he climbed up the order to finish eighth after receiving a grid penalty for impeding Johann Zarco in qualifying.

Binder made up eight places in the Grand Prix to bring home another decent haul of points for his championship standing.

However, consistency is one of the issues he has had to contend with.

Binder has looked off the pace in Malaysia thus far, setting a time in Q1 that was only good enough for 18th place on the grid. In Saturday’s Sprint, he was unable to replicate his Phillip Island form, making up just two positions to take the chequered flag in 16th.

During the race, TNT Sports commentator Gavin Emmett highlighted how ‘remarkable’ Pol Espargaro was performing in the place of the sidelined Vinales.

With the Spaniard up to seventh at the time, Emmett’s comment drew Hodgson’s attention towards the struggling Binder, who was in 16th.

The former MotoGP rider said: “But it’s remarkable when you look at, obviously, Acosta’s in front of him, but you look at Bastianini behind him.

“You look at Brad Binder down in 16th, a second a lap off him. I feel sorry for Brad Binder; he’s just lost his way a little bit. He’s been fast all through his career; he’s never been slow, hasn’t Brad.”

READ MORE: MotoGP starting grid after Francesco Bagnaia’s Malaysian Grand Prix pole and Marco Bezzecchi Q1 exit

Pedro Acosta is now two rounds away from sweeping Brad Binder in the KTM qualifying battle

Acosta has been flying high in the midst of his teammate’s struggles, recording three podiums so far in 2025 as he regularly looks like a contender for a spot within the top-three finishers at every Grand Prix weekend.

With the Spanish rider qualifying fifth in Sepang, it took the qualifying head-to-head between the two KTM riders to 20-0, in favour of Acosta.

Binder is one of just two riders on the grid to not have got one over on their teammate during the Saturday shootout, with Somkiat Chantra also failing to outqualify his LCR Honda teammate, Johann Zarco, during the current campaign.

It’s clear to see that Binder has been outshone by Acosta during the latter’s sophomore season in the premier class.

If the Murcian native does end up one-upping him during qualifying in Portimao and Valencia, it’ll mark the first time in the South African’s career that he has been out-qualified by his teammate at every single race in a season.