Brad Binder has never seemed so vulnerable at KTM. A pillar of the Austrian manufacturer since his MotoGP debut in 2020, the South African is having a disappointing 2025 season, raising serious doubts about his long-term future. At 30 years old, the 2020 Czech Grand Prix winner retains his seat for 2026, but beyond that, nothing is guaranteed.
According to The Race, discussions between Binder et KTM His position is now "strained," as the brand no longer considers him a reliable asset. This is an unprecedented situation for someone who, for years, embodied KTM's consistency and fighting spirit.
Loyal to the brand for over a decade – he had joined KTM in Moto3 in 2015 after an initial contact in 2012 – Binder is currently facing ruthless internal competition: Pedro Acosta.
The Spanish prodigy of 21 years, who joined the official team in 2025, dominates his teammate 21-0 in qualifying and displays 285 points in the championship against only 145 for Binder, with one round to go.
The contrast is stark: Acosta has already achieved five podium finishes, while Binder They did no better than fourth place. Worse still, four retirements marred an otherwise lackluster season.
The status of Binder within the box KTM has clearly changed. Once a symbol of stability, it is now perceived as uncertainty.
Brad Binder is in tense talks with KTM
« Brad Binder is in tense talks with KTM », reports The Race. " The brand no longer considers it reliable. »
This loss of confidence comes at a time when KTM is itself going through a period of doubt: the industrial partner Bajaj is considering selling the team, which makes the overall future of the project even more uncertain. In this context, the management in Mattighofen wants to ensure that every driver signed for 2027 is a sure bet — and Binder no longer sends the right signals.
His fourth place at Mandalika, during the Indonesian Grand Prix, remains his only top-five finish of the season. For a rider long considered a model of consistency, the symbolism is powerful.
Behind the scenes, KTM would even have considered demoting Binder to the team Tech3 for 2026, in exchange for the seat of Maverick Vinales, before the latter's injury froze the situation.
now Binder He absolutely must pull himself together if he wants to save his place for after 2026. The brand expects a clear and lasting rebound, otherwise he risks being replaced as early as the next regulatory cycle.
Brad Binder He knows: 2025 must serve as a wake-up call. His difficulties have highlighted the limits of his adaptation and the growing gap with AcostaEven the South African acknowledged it: the young Spaniard “showed him his weaknesses".
When KTM is wondering about the composition of his team for 2027, Binder finds itself at a crucial crossroads.
If he doesn't regain his former ferocity and consistency, the hero of Brno may well no longer be part of the future of KTM — a brand that he nevertheless helped to raise to the top.
