Jorge Lorenzo has a theory that might explain Brad Binder’s big deficit to Pedro Acosta at KTM

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Pedro Acosta has dominated Brad Binder in the 2025 KTM head-to-head battle, and Jorge Lorenzo has shared his theory on why the South African has struggled so much against him in the current campaign.

The two riders within the factory KTM setup have experienced starkly contrasting seasons during the current term, with Acosta eyeing a potential fourth-place finish in the MotoGP standings, and Binder languishing in 11th.

The 30-year-old has nearly half of the amount of points that Acosta currently holds to his name, and is currently in danger of completing his first podium-less season in the premier class.

The extent of the Spaniard’s hold over the rider pecking order at KTM is evident through Acosta’s 21-0 lead over Binder in the qualifying head-to-head.

Ahead of the previous round of racing, Acosta highlighted that qualifying isn’t one of his strengths, making the rout in favour of the Murcian native all the more damning for the South African’s season.

READ MORE: KTM boss just set Brad Binder a ‘crucial’ target as he fights for his MotoGP future

Jorge Lorenzo shares his theory on why Brad Binder can’t replicate the results of Pedro Acosta atop a KTM

Binder identified KTM’s experiments with the RC16 as having a detrimental effect on his performance during 2025, which is in line with Jorge Lorenzo’s theory on why he can’t match the pace of his younger teammate.

On an episode of The Chat between Ruben Xaus and the three-time MotoGP champion, Xaus pinpointed how the 21-year-old’s riding style suits the nature of KTM’s factory spec bike, saying, “KTM works in that way, you understand?

“He exaggerates it a bit more than Bastianini and Binder; he closes, and he exaggerates more. It means that Binder and Bastianini would have to exaggerate more to be there at the front with him, and that’s the point.”

Lorenzo then added his theory, saying, “Maybe it doesn’t come naturally to them if they try to ride like Pedro, right?”

The 30-year-old has been highly complimentary of his in-house rival as the season has progressed, with Binder hailing Acosta’s ability to perform in any given situation.

He sees this key attribute of his teammates as one that he ‘for sure’ has to improve on in the future.

READ MORE: KTM must keep Brad Binder in 2027 after witnessing a ‘lethal combination’ at the Portugal GP

Jorge Lorenzo has been surprised by one of Pedro Acosta’s abilities that has helped him move up the MotoGP standings

Before their debate over the issues that the other riders within the KTM stable are experiencing, Lorenzo highlighted a few traits of Acosta’s that have surprised him during the 21-year-old’s sophomore season in the category.

The former MotoGP star said, “In my opinion, he always finds someone who takes away the victory from him because he doesn’t have the bike. And with the bike he has, he’s not performing miracles, but he’s bringing it to the absolute limit of what the KTM can deliver right now.

“One of the things that surprises me most is his patience to finish races, to be content with a second, third, or fourth place, and settle in that position of the top five of the championship. He doesn’t push beyond that and doesn’t fall, and that’s very important.

“Another thing that really surprises me is the way he rides. How he takes corners, how he covers much less distance than the others, he enters the corners extremely tight on the inside, about 20% shorter than the others, and yet still manages to turn the bike and find traction.

“I wouldn’t say he has the best, but he doesn’t lose much in traction compared to the others, and this surprises me. I don’t know how he does it.”

Acosta has proven that he is capable of a title fight, but it remains to be seen whether KTM are able to give him the right calibre of machinery in order for him to pursue his dream.

If the Austrian constructor fails to do so, the Spaniard isn’t in short supply of suitors for his services. A rival MotoGP brand wouldn’t think twice about snapping his talents up if the opportunity presented itself.