Brad Binder has his ‘fingers crossed’ that KTM’s Brazilian Grand Prix tyre simulation is right

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Brad Binder says his fingers are “crossed” that KTM’s tyre department have got their simulations right for the Brazilian Grand Prix, after hearing their worries for Goiania.

The paddock has returned to Goiania for the first time since 1989 this weekend, as MotoGP also revives the Brazilian GP for the first time since the 1992 500cc season. KTM star Binder was not even born the last time that the 500cc class added the Brazilian GP to the calendar.

Goiania will be the 24th different track that Binder has raced at in his MotoGP career when he takes the start of the Brazilian GP on Sunday. Should the 30-year-old finish Sunday’s race on the rostrum, Goiania would also be the 10th unique track that he has taken a podium at.

Binder has not earned a podium finish since his P2 finish in the 2024 season-opening Qatar Grand Prix. The South African started the 2026 season with P7 in the Thailand Grand Prix at the start of March, along with taking P6 as teammate Pedro Acosta won the Buriram Sprint.

KTM have told Brad Binder that they expect ‘high’ rear tyre wear at the Brazilian Grand Prix

KTM have sacrificed top speed to make the RC16 a more complete bike this year, but their approach was not taken with the intention of only improving their bike’s tyre wear. Binder suffered a lot with tyre wear in 2025, and KTM expect rear tyre wear will be high in Brazil.

READ MORE: All you need to know about the Brazilian Grand Prix, including Goiania stats

KTM’s simulations for the Brazilian GP, based on the limited data that they have for Goiania, suggest rear tyre management will be a challenge due to the circuit layout and surface. So, Binder has his “fingers crossed” that KTM’s simulations help them to avoid any major issues.

Binder said, via MotoMatters: “From my understanding, this place is supposed to be really hard on the rear tyre, at least that’s what the simulation expects, or our people that work inside the tyre department expect – a high-wearing track.

“So, we need to wait and see, because you never know until you spin laps. Fingers crossed it works out well!”

READ MORE: Experts predict the Brazilian GP, including whether Marc Marquez can win

What’s your podium prediction for the Brazilian Grand Prix?

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Riders and teams will have to learn quickly how Michelin’s tyres interact with Goiania’s track surface during practice at the Brazilian GP this weekend. The track’s fast right-hand corners where riders will brake with big lean angles is due to punish the right side of the front tyres.

KTM might also be concerned about how the RC16 treats Michelin’s rear tyres when Binder, Acosta and Tech3 riders Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini accelerate on the side of their tyres. To manage any issues with wear, Michelin has brought its hard tyre carcasses to Brazil.

Michelin has brought the soft and medium rear tyres that it usually supplies for the Austrian Grand Prix, while supplying the hard tyre carcass that it takes to Thailand and Indonesia. The soft and medium carcasses are designed to reduce temperatures when the tyre is spinning.