KTM worked with the Red Bull F1 team to give Brad Binder an ‘extreme’ upgrade at the Valencia test

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KTM produced their third winless season in a row during the 2025 MotoGP campaign, so the Austrian outfit gave Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta updates at the Valencia test.

The Munderfing squad have not won a race since Miguel Oliveira conquered the Thai Grand Prix back in 2022. A total of 45 rounds have passed since the Portuguese ace won in the wet at Buriram, and 93 races have passed since KTM last won in the dry at the 2021 Catalan GP.

Binder has not taken a win since he conquered the 2021 Austrian GP in mixed conditions, as well, and his 2025 factory KTM teammate Acosta has yet to score a MotoGP Grand Prix win. KTM also ended the 2025 MotoGP season fourth in the teams’ championship on 462 points.

Acosta was able to finish the year fourth in the riders’ standings with 307 points, and he also reached five Grand Prix rostrums. Binder, on the other hand, scored 155 points for P11 with no podiums. Also, Acosta beat Binder 22-0 in qualifying in the KTM head-to-head for 2025.

KTM worked with the Red Bull F1 team on an ‘extreme’ fairing upgrade for the Valencia test

So, as KTM strive to improve their results during what will be the final season of the current MotoGP regulations in 2026, Motorsport.com reports that the Austrian squad worked with the Red Bull F1 team to develop a ‘rather extreme’ fairing upgrade prior to the Valencia test.

READ MORE: Everything to know about KTM from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy

KTM offered Acosta and Binder, as well as Tech3 duo Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales, two fairing designs to trial during the 2025 post-season Valencia test. The fairing design that ‘impressed the most’ was also the one that KTM developed with the help of Red Bull Racing.

The latest fairing that KTM’s riders tested on the RC16 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo featured an ‘increasingly visible’ vertical profile to generate a larger channel. KTM have also sought to generate greater aerodynamic load at the lower element of the fairing with a Venturi effect.

Binder left the Valencia test feeling rather positive, as he bids to bounce back from his worst year since his rookie season in 2020. After trialling their new fairing and more, Binder could “really feel” both tyres on KTM’s bike during the Valencia test, having not felt that for ages.

KTM have sought help from Red Bull, who were the masters of the Venturi channels in F1

Formula 1 cars, especially since the series re-introduced ground-effect cars in 2022, require strong Venturi tunnels under the floor to generate the most downforce possible. Red Bull’s F1 crew dominated the championship under the rules from the start in 2022 through 2024.

The Venturi channels generate downforce by accelerating the airflow underneath an F1 car and by creating a low pressure zone. KTM have now leaned on the support of Red Bull’s F1 crew to try to create a new fairing for their 2026 MotoGP bike that will give a similar effect.

How successful the new fairing and any other aspects that KTM design for the RC16 in 2026 could prove key to more than just their results. Bajaj has put KTM up for sale for £88m, and Binder’s KTM future is uncertain ahead of his contract with the brand expiring next season.