Marco Bezzecchi
Brad Binder very nearly became a Tech3 rider for the 2026 MotoGP season. Maverick Vinales was in line for a promotion to KTM.
Vinales made an impressive start after joining from Aprilia. He stood on the podium in Qatar before losing the trophy to a tyre-pressure penalty, but he responded with five top-six finishes in his next 12 starts.
Before Top Gun injured his shoulder at the German GP, he was 10th in the championship on 69 points. That was 22 more than a struggling Binder in 13th.
Will Brad Binder still be a KTM rider in 2027?
However, Vinales’ injury cost him a KTM factory ride, and kept Binder in his seat. The two will go head-to-head on equal machinery again next year.
Richard Coleman says KTM will co-operate with Tech3 on rider choices
With the long-serving Herve Poncharal stepping aside, Tech3 are under new management for 2026. Ex-Formula 1 team boss Guenther Steiner takes over as CEO, with Richard Coleman to become team principal.
KTM pay the salaries of all four riders in their roster, and Coleman says this entitles them to make line-up decisions. However, he’s confident that Tech3 wouldn’t be forced to accept a rider they didn’t want.
What would you change on our dream 2027 grid?
“KTM treats all its riders equally – that also applies to Pedro,” Coleman told Speedweek. “And as far as I can tell, KTM is very good in that respect. They make the decisions.
“But I’m also sure that if we have a very strong opinion, KTM wouldn’t force anything on us. This process is cooperative. In the end, KTM pays the riders’ salaries. Whether this approach will still be in place in 2027 is uncertain.”
Tech3 have raced with KTM bikes since the start of the 2019 season. Previously tied to Yamaha, they boast six premier-class victories.
How long will Tech3 be part of the KTM set-up?
KTM’s ‘plan A’ is to continue with Tech3 for 2027 and beyond. But it’s still not guaranteed that the Austrian manufacturer will be on the grid after a recent ownership change.
Tech3 have considered a partnership with Honda if they have to split with KTM. The satellite field may be reshuffled at the end of 2026.
Reports suggest VR46 are in talks with Aprilia, which would force Trackhouse to make a new alliance. They’re thought to be ahead of Tech3 in the Honda queue.
Perhaps Steiner and Coleman could fill the VR46 hole at Ducati, should it materialise. The F1 veterans are clearly walking into a volatile situation.
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