Marco Bezzecchi
Brad Binder’s only hope of staying on the MotoGP grid for 2027 is signing a new deal at KTM. Binder is at risk of losing his place in the premier class at the end of his seventh season.
While Binder’s teammate Pedro Acosta is joining Ducati, it’s strongly rumoured that KTM will sign Alex Marquez. That leaves just one seat available.
Binder started his 2027 audition positively with two top-seven finishes in Thailand, but he has only scored four points in as many starts since. KTM signed Phil Marron, Toprak Razgatlioglu’s former crew chief, to work with him, but there hasn’t been an immediate uptick in his results.
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It’s KTM or bust for Brad Binder in 2027
A report from Motorsport Espana lists the options for all 11 teams on the grid heading into 2027. Binder is only named as a candidate for KTM.
Based on their information, he isn’t speaking to any other teams about a potential seat. With satellite Tech3 potentially defecting to Honda, a safety net could be removed.
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It has recently been claimed that KTM boss Pit Beirer wants Maverick Vinales as Marquez’s teammate despite his ongoing injury problems.
Binder and Vinales are seen as the two contenders to partner Marquez at this stage, so perhaps a strong run of form could still sway Beirer. The problem is that it’s increasingly difficult to see the South African making a breakthrough, the longer his malaise continues.
‘It’s not about earning money’ – Neil Hodgson’s advice to Brad Binder
TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson says MotoGP manufacturers should be interested in Binder, a two-time race-winner in the premier class and the 2016 Moto3 champion.
Binder has been riding KTM bikes for over a decade and has spent his entire top-level career racing for the factory squad. There’s an argument that he needs a change.
Hodgson says it’s ‘not about earning money’ at this stage for the 30-year-old. On that basis, he should be willing to accept a pay cut to improve his chances of joining another team.
It’s believed that Binder earns around £850k per year under his current contract. There is a proposal to set a minimum MotoGP salary of €500k (£437k) from next year.
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