Marco Bezzecchi
KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer backing Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales to emerge as their “second leader” should tempt Brad Binder to move to World Superbikes in 2027.
Binder currently faces an uncertain future in MotoGP, as he is due to be out of contract with KTM after the 2026 season. The 30-year-old has also so far struggled to deliver results that would merit a new deal, especially one that would see him remain in the factory KTM team.
The South African had been the figurehead of the KTM project ever since he debuted in the premier class for the Austrian squad back in 2020. But the arrival of Pedro Acosta at KTM in 2025 coincided with Binder producing the worst campaign of his career in MotoGP thus far.
His 2026 campaign has not proven to be too fruitful to date, either, with Binder only scoring 17 points through the first three rounds to rank 12th in the standings, while Acosta sits third with 60 points. Acosta can see that Binder has “struggled” aboard the RC16 in 2026, as well.
KTM have an option to extend Enea Bastianini’s contract but could lose Tech3 – Should he join the factory KTM team in 2027?
Pit Beirer believes Maverick Vinales can be KTM’s ‘second team leader’ after his injury
Also, Beirer admits that KTM are “not where we want to be” with Binder, along with Tech3’s Vinales and Enea Bastianini. Vinales has had a difficult start to 2026, after a screw in his left shoulder from the surgery he needed last July became loose and it was rubbing the tendon.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Maverick Vinales from career stats to net worth
Beirer has stated that KTM still “believe” in Vinales, who has had the screw taken out of his shoulder. Now, Beirer wants to see the 31-year-old emerge as their “second leader” behind Acosta, with it thought that KTM have now put Vinales’ factory promotion for 2027 on hold.
“At the Sepang test, he was totally fine,” Beirer noted, via Motorsport.com. “No pain, happy again and had a big smile on his face. And just weeks later, slowly he lost strength again, the movement became less, and we couldn’t really explain why and what.
“But then we found out that suddenly his screw is starting to move and coming out of the bone. The boy is not lucky, and with that comes for us a frustrating time, because we want to finally prove with Maverick we can do it. And still, it looks like we need to wait for that…
“But yes, we believe in Maverick, and we want him to come back and prove to us that he will be the right guy to be our second team leader.”
Brad Binder must accept his KTM career is over and move to World Superbikes in 2027
While Vinales’ ongoing issues with his shoulder injury have put the brakes on a move to the factory KTM team for next term, when KTM are expected to sign Alex Marquez, too, Binder must see Beirer’s vote of confidence in the Tech3 star as the final straw that sees him leave.
READ MORE: The best moments of Brad Binder’s MotoGP career
Finish the sentence: In 2027, Brad Binder will be racing for …
Binder has fallen further and further away from the front of the MotoGP field across recent seasons. It is even now thought that KTM could demote Binder to Tech3 for 2027, but even that landing spot may yet fall through as Honda are close to convincing Tech3 to leave KTM.
Should Tech3 join Honda’s fold, and Vinales bounces back from his injury and lives up to the status that Beirer believes he can, then KTM could leave Binder out in the cold. Thus, he has to accept that his days in MotoGP are numbered and start to target a new chapter for 2027.
The World Superbike Championship may now be the best place for Binder to return to form and extend his career on two wheels, which is not heading anywhere fast in MotoGP. The South African may hope the 2027 MotoGP regulations give him a fresh start, but with who?
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