Marco Bezzecchi
Brad Binder has continued to struggle at KTM in 2026, while Pedro Acosta has shone, and MotoGP journalist Mat Oxley thinks that the personnel changes that the South African underwent over the winter break have seen him become ‘completely lost’.
Acosta’s reign as the lead rider for KTM over the last 12 months has been aided by Binder’s inability to match the young Spaniard’s results over the course of the race weekend.
The South African has failed to outqualify his much younger teammate since Acosta’s debut term in 2024, but it’s become clearer in recent weeks that Binder hasn’t received as much support in Mattighofen as the 21-year-old has.
Predict the order of the KTM riders in the 2026 MotoGP standings
Tech3 rider Enea Bastianini urged KTM to look past prioritising Acosta when it comes to bike development over the winter break, which has been echoed by Carlo Pernat, who pinpointed that Binder is suffering because of it.
Mat Oxley says Brad Binder has ‘a lot of work to do’ with crew chief Phil Marron
During a post-Brazilian Grand Prix episode of the Oxley Bom MotoGP podcast, Mat Oxley offered his thoughts on Binder’s difficult race weekend.
The 30-year-old crashed out of the Brazilian Grand Prix after just three laps, but was running in a lowly P17 at the time. Acosta, on the other hand, was locked in a battle with Jorge Martin for a potential spot on the podium.
While discussing the riders who failed to see the chequered flag in Goiania on Sunday, Oxley said, “What about Joan Mir? Wow. Pecco Bagnaia? Wow. Brad Binder? Wow. I mean, there’s just some real s— going on for all those riders, especially Binder.
Has Brad Binder’s MotoGP career been better or worse than you expected?
“Because he was right at the back and he crashed out as well. To be slow is one thing, but to be slow and crash is another. He’s got a lot of work to do with Phil Marron.
“You never know if changing crew chiefs can unlock something in a rider, and this is only the second out of 22 race weekends. But at the moment, you just have to think, well, Binder is completely lost. I mean, you just wouldn’t expect him to be back with Bastianini and Vinales.”
- READ MORE: Enea Bastianini likes what he saw Brad Binder’s former crew chief do in the garage at Sepang test
Brad Binder still needs to prove he is still worthy of a MotoGP seat for the 2027 season
What is even more worrying for Binder’s struggles this year is the fact that he is out of contract at the end of the current campaign, and both seats at KTM Factory Racing have reportedly already been filled.
Maverick Vinales is expected to partner with Alex Marquez at the factory squad next year, with both riders moving from satellite teams ahead of MotoGP’s new era of technical regulations.
Binder has reportedly accepted that he is surplus to requirements at KTM this year, but his career in the premier class is still at stake if he isn’t able to turn his season around by the time every seat is filled for next year.
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