KTM boss wants to see Brad Binder having more ‘arguments’ with his crew in 2026

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Brad Binder has a new crew chief at KTM for the 2026 MotoGP season. Long-time colleague Andres Madrid gives way to Phil Marron.

The change comes after what was arguably Binder’s poorest MotoGP season to date. He failed to score a podium for the first time in the premier class and slipped outside the top 10 in the standings, something he hadn’t done since his rookie year.

Binder was whitewashed by Pedro Acosta in qualifying, and while he still ranked second among the KTM riders, Maverick Vinales was injured for much of the year and Enea Bastianini has had to adapt to the RC16.

Binder’s relationship with Madrid dates back 10 years, but he will now work with Marron, who previously supported three-time World Superbikes champion Toprak Razgatlioglu.

Pit Beirer says Brad Binder became too comfortable with Andres Madrid

In an interview with Speedweek, KTM boss Pit Beirer explained why the change was made. He admitted that it didn’t receive unanimous approval.

However, Beirer was alarmed that Binder’s crew ‘kept making the same mistakes’, particularly when it came to strategy. It meant that the 30-year-old wasn’t peaking until the race, by which time he had underperformed in qualifying and left points on the table in the Sprint.

It’s possible that Binder became too comfortable with his ‘good friend’ Madrid. If he has more ‘arguments’ with Marron, it might actually lead to a breakthrough.

“The crew chiefs issue is now settled,” said Beirer. “Not everyone was happy – but that’s unavoidable in a large organisation.

“We came to the conclusion that we needed a change with Brad because we kept making the same mistakes. Not in terms of the technology or the bike itself – it’s about strategy.

“When do I go out, who do I go behind, and with which tyre – these are also important points. Brad and Andres have become good friends over the past few years – a perfect team in their own right.

“But that also meant that many things were no longer discussed. There were never any arguments, there was a great deal of routine – and we wanted to break that up.

“We have a huge appreciation for Andres and his work, but with Brad, the collaboration has been such that Brad has generally had the best bike of the weekend in Sunday’s race. The fact is, though, that’s too late.”

Brad Binder’s new crew chief can ‘set him straight’

Binder’s first impression of Marron is positive, based on the comments he made during the post-season test in Valencia earlier this month.

And Beirer believes that KTM may see a more ‘confident’ Binder next year thanks to the guidance of the Northern Irishman.

“We think Phil can do a good job here, setting Brad straight at the right moment and also giving him more confidence.”

Beirer’s eye-opening comments point to KTM’s frustration with their longest-serving rider. There’s no doubt that Binder is fighting for his MotoGP future in 2026, with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.