Brad Binder returns to the Red Bull Ring hoping the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix can reignite his faltering MotoGP campaign. The South African rider is enduring the toughest season of his premier-class career, and KTM’s motorsport director Pit Beirer has made it clear: the team is “not at all satisfied” with what they’ve seen so far.
The Austrian GP holds special significance for Binder. It was here in 2021 that he claimed his second—and most recent—MotoGP victory, gambling on slick tyres in a dramatic late-race downpour. But four years and 78 Grands Prix later, that win remains his last. As the championship resumes after its summer break, Binder finds himself in unfamiliar territory: struggling for form, confidence, and results.
Binder has scored just 68 points across the first 12 rounds of 2025—his lowest tally at this stage of any season. Not even his rookie year in 2020, when he sat 12th with 76 points, saw him this far down the standings. His best result this year remains a sixth-place finish at Jerez in April.
The arrival of Pedro Acosta to the factory KTM team has only intensified the spotlight. The 21-year-old rookie has already amassed 124 points and delivered KTM’s first podium of the season at the Hungarian GP. Tech3 teammates Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini have also outshone Binder in flashes, with 69 and 49 points respectively.
Acosta’s rapid adaptation has highlighted Binder’s struggles with KTM’s 2025 RC16. Known for his aggressive braking style, Binder once thrived on the bike’s characteristics. But this year, that synergy has faltered.
“You can’t compete in this class without confidence,” Beirer told Motorsport.com. “We clearly know we have to help Brad. Yes, we’re not at all satisfied with the performances we’ve achieved with him.”
Beirer acknowledged that Binder is having difficulty unlocking the bike’s potential: “He’s having a hard time making this package work, and now it’s our job to restore his confidence. The category is very dynamic, and the bikes are getting faster every year. You also have to adapt your riding style. Sometimes, decisions made about the bike don’t suit a particular rider—and that’s exactly what’s happening with Brad. He just can’t find the feeling he needs to express his potential.”
Binder’s qualifying performances have been a major stumbling block. He’s the only KTM rider yet to secure a top-five finish this season, and only Bastianini—who joined Tech3 this year—has a worse average qualifying position. Binder’s poor grid placements have consistently forced him to battle through the pack, often starting races at a disadvantage compared to Acosta.
As the championship heads to Austria, Binder will be hoping that familiar surroundings and past triumphs can help turn the tide. But with KTM’s patience wearing thin and Acosta’s star rising, the pressure is mounting.
