Marco Bezzecchi
KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer is not happy with the struggles that factory rider Brad Binder plus Tech3 duo Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini have had in 2026.
Beirer believes KTM have found a “solid base” for Pedro Acosta to perform on the RC16 this season. But the Austrian crew have so far only been able to get the Spaniard to deliver, with Acosta third in the riders’ championship ahead of the United States Grand Prix on 42 points.
Binder scored the second-most points among the KTM family across the first two rounds in Thailand and Brazil. But the South African sits just ninth in the standings on 13 points, while Bastianini boasts five points to rank 17th and Vinales in 20th place is yet to score any points.
The mixed form of the KTM fold is largely down to Acosta being the only one able to deliver on the RC16 in Thailand and Brazil. Although, while Bastianini and Binder have not matched Acosta’s results this year, Vinales has withdrawn from the United States GP due to an injury.
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Pit Beirer claims KTM are ‘not where we want’ with Brad Binder, Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini
A CT scan has shown that a screw in Vinales’ left shoulder has come loose, and he will need an operation to fix the issue stemming from the surgery he underwent last summer. Vinales dislocated and fractured his shoulder after a highside during qualifying in Germany last July.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Brad Binder from career stats to wife
KTM motorsport director Beirer hopes Vinales returns from injury soon and rediscovers the initial form he showed after joining Tech3 in 2025. Beirer concedes that KTM are not happy with the form that Vinales, Binder and Bastianini have so far been able to produce in 2026.
“It looks like we have Pedro on a solid base now, where he can really fight for great positions a lot, I would say,” Beirer said, via quotes by Crash. “But we are not where we want to be with Brad, Enea and Maverick.
“So, there is still some work to do. But we believe in Maverick, and we want him to come back and prove to us that he will be the right guy to also be in the team in the future.”
KTM are ‘definitely’ speaking with David Alonso and Daniel Holgado over 2027 MotoGP moves
Binder, Bastianini and Vinales need to improve their performances on the RC16 in the 2026 MotoGP season, as all three are currently set to see their factory KTM contracts expire this year. Also, Ducati are expected to sign Acosta for 2027, with his KTM contract also expiring.
It has even been said that KTM have put Vinales’ promotion into their factory team on hold due to his injury issues. KTM have been tipped to move the 31-year-old up from Tech3, but it remains to be seen whether he joins, as KTM are expected to sign Alex Marquez, as well.
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Beirer also admits that KTM are “definitely” speaking with Moto2 sensations David Alonso and Daniel Holgado about potential moves up to MotoGP within their stable next term. The pair have emerged as two of the likely title contenders in the intermediate class this season.
“We are definitely talking to them, and it’s clear that the future is up to the young guys,” Beirer added. “We have to see, and maybe 850 is a chance to give Moto2 riders an even easier entry into MotoGP. But I know we are not the only ones talking to them!”
Reports have suggested that Honda are considering signing Alonso for their factory team in 2027, in a deal that would see him partner current Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo. It is also said that Honda could put Alonso at Gresini in 2027, as they want the satellite Ducati squad.
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