It's time for the season debrief. As every winter for the past two years, this column analyzes each rider's campaign in detail, from the lowest-ranked to the world champion. The aim is to provide a reasoned perspective on the performance of each of our heroes, so we can all discuss it together. Are you ready for this new installment, dedicated to Brad Binder? Let's go!
Yesterday's episode was dedicated to Johann Zarco; you can find it by clicking here.
The biggest disappointment of the year
In my article about Joan Mir – which you can find by clicking here —, the most curious among you may have noticed that despite the criticisms leveled against it, I did not award it the title of "Disappointment of the year"No, this season, the award easily goes to Brad Binder, there's not even a debate.
Brad Binder has sometimes been unlucky, it's true, but he's also had opportunities to shine. Photo: KTM
I've never been a fan of the factory KTM rider. However, in both 2022 and 2023, I had to acknowledge his talent, especially since he expressed it in two different ways. During the first of these seasons, he was incredibly consistent, finishing sixth in the championship. Nothing could faze him. Then, in 2023, he transformed into a pure strikerwho wasn't afraid to get stuck in against Jorge Martin or Pecco Bagnaia. Even though I sometimes criticized his clumsiness, he managed to finish fourth overall, not without having been in contention for third place until the very last races.
We admired a flamboyant rider, who was never afraid. Sure, he didn't win on Sundays, but his approach made him an electrifying presence. He lived up to his reputation: it shouldn't be forgotten that, like Pedro Acosta, Brad Binder was seen as a prodigy when he arrived in MotoGP during the 2020 season, and moreover, unlike Acosta, He managed to establish himself in his rookie year.
From then on, I had no trouble saying he was one of the three best riders in the world when I took a step back. I envisioned him as the future of KTM, the very embodiment of the brand, as evidenced by his exceptionally long contract. Moreover, at the end of 2023, he was only 28 years old, which was still relatively young. Yes, I was expecting a breakthrough, a crowning achievement. And she never came.
My doubts began to surface in 2024. After a very solid but remarkably understated season, I wondered if he hadn't dominated his teammates all those years simply because they weren't up to scratch. Apart from the inconsistent Miguel Oliveira, who remains KTM's last Grand Prix winner at the time of writing, he had never known a strong colleagueBut the arrival of Pedro Acosta changed everything.
In 2025, Brad Binder was extremely disappointing. No wins, for the fourth consecutive season. No podium finishes. No top 3 in the Sprint. He finishes 11th overall, and is soundly beaten by Pedro Acosta.
The comparisons that hurt Brad Binder
For the first time since their arrival in MotoGP, KTM had four excellent riders this season. In fact, it's probably the best lineup if you only look at the names. Acosta/Binder/Bastianini/VinalesCan you believe it? Well, everyone except Binder has made it to the podium this year. The comparison with Acosta, his teammate, is extremely painful. Binder takes 22-0 In qualifying, he never beat Pedro Acosta on Saturday mornings. Furthermore, on points, it's not even comparable: There are 152 points separating the two pilotsAnd then, when you look at the races, it's even more striking. Where Acosta managed to threaten the strongest riders in the second half of the season, Binder remained very discreet.
Pedro Acosta, in 2024, his first year, was already at his level. That was an early indication. Photo: KTM
Because that's the strangest thing: The KTM RC16 seemed to be performing well after the Czech Grand Prix! Enea Bastianini, who was discovering it, managed to place it very high in the race. Yes, Binder also benefited from this return of the Mattighofen brand late in the year, but never did better than fourth, a result achieved by Maverick Viñales at the end of the fifth Grand Prix.
You can't write history with "ifs," but I still like to do it. If Bastianini hadn't completely lost his way after finding the right solutions in the Czech Republic, and if Maverick Viñales hadn't been injured in Germany, I think—get this— that Brad Binder would have finished last among the KTM ridersThis is just a guess, of course, but I really believe it's a very close call.
The problem is that I'm starting to remake the entire film. In 2023, Binder was playing up front, yes, but who else did we have to make sure he wasn't being carried by KTM? Jack Miller? Rookie Augusto Fernandez? An injured Pol Espargaro? Couldn't Pedro Acosta, with that strong early RC16 (remember Jerez and the first few races), have actually been able to fight for the world title on that bike, given the rather inconsistent performances of Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia that year? These questions are perfectly legitimate, because for far too long, Binder had no real competition at KTM.
Conclusion
Brad Binder needs to react as quickly as possible. In my opinion, no driver on the grid has experienced such a drop in value in the last two years; I can't put it any better. He went from being a future contender for the world title to a midfield driver who is never seen on screen.For next year, KTM will assign him a new chief mechanic in the person of Phil Marron, who until now worked with Toprak Razgatlioglu in Superbike. His former chief mechanic, Andres Madrid, was taken away (in favor of Bastianini) because KTM wanted to break the routine that had developed between the two friends. Perhaps this is the key, but what is certain is that he will have to find it quickly if he doesn't want to end up, in a few years, in the category of... "Generational talents that ultimately amounted to nothing".
What did you think of Binder's season? Tell me in the comments!
As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.
Next year will be decisive for Brad Binder. Photo: KTM
Cover photo: KTM
