Marco Bezzecchi
Brad Binder is set to lose his KTM seat at the end of the 2026 season, but all hope is not lost as he tries to stay on the grid.
News broke last weekend that Fabio Di Giannantonio is moving to KTM to form a brand new line-up alongside Alex Marquez. Neither move has been officially announced, but that’s down to the delay in finalising the post-2026 commercial agreement.
Binder will leave the KTM factory team after seven seasons, and even if satellite squad Tech3 extend their deal with the Austrian manufacturer, he doesn’t appear to be at the front of the queue.
Rate KTM’s move for Fabio Di Giannantonio out of 10!
Former KTM boss Francesco Guidotti set to join Trackhouse
There might be a surprise opening for Binder elsewhere in the pit lane, though. With Trackhouse boss Davide Brivio heading to Honda next year, the American outfit need a new leader.
According to Motorpasion Moto, Francesco Guidotti is ‘very close’ to joining the team. He has been trying to return to the grid ever since he left KTM at the end of 2024.
Will Brad Binder be on the MotoGP grid in 2027?
It’s just a ‘matter of time’ before ‘official confirmation’ arrives. Guidotti, who has previously worked for Aprilia, will take over the Noale manufacturer’s satellite operation.
Trackhouse have been told to sign Binder as a replacement for Ai Ogura, who has been lured away by the Yamaha factory team.
What has Francesco Guidotti said about Brad Binder?
Binder was arguably in the prime of his career during Guidotti’s stint at KTM. He finished in the top six of the world championship for three straight seasons, scoring nine podiums.
The South African was also the brand’s lead rider throughout this period, so if he’s on the market, it’s conceivable that Guidotti will recommend him to Trackhouse owner Justin Marks.
After one of those aforementioned podiums at the Austrian GP, Guidotti said Binder fights like a ‘lion’ on track. He may want to bring that mentality to Trackhouse, as well as the experience.
The race for the Trackhouse seat will be extremely competitive given that the factory spots are now filled, but Brivio’s exit could certainly change the dynamics.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
