Brad Binder's MotoGP Struggles: A Tale of 'Low G' Riding and Front-End Challenges
After a challenging 2025 MotoGP season, Brad Binder reflects on his struggles with KTM's RC16 bike, particularly its incompatibility with his aggressive riding style. Binder's season saw him slip from fourth to eleventh in the world championship, finishing behind team-mate Pedro Acosta.
The issue stems from a string of front-end crashes, especially during time attacks, which have impacted his confidence and performance. Binder explains, 'Whenever I put in big efforts, that's when my problems really show up.' He's now focused on finding a balance between speed and 'low G' riding, a style that doesn't align with his natural approach.
The front-end issues have been a persistent problem, dating back to the 2024 season. Binder notes, 'We had a lot of issues with the front end, but we could still be quite fast when needed.' This year, however, the challenges have been more pronounced, requiring a reevaluation of his performance extraction methods.
Binder's qualifying performance has also been subpar, a combination of front-end confidence issues and the struggle to balance speed and 'low G' riding. He acknowledges, 'I've never been a great qualifier, but this year has been worse.'
Looking ahead, Binder aims to view the 2025 season as a temporary setback. He hopes, 'It's just a lull! I hope it's a year where things were really, really difficult, but we came out the other side.'
The interview also touches on the team's approach to different riding styles. Binder notes the contrast between his aggressive style and that of Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini, who have their own unique strengths on the KTM.
Binder concludes by expressing confidence in his understanding of the 2026 bike's requirements, stating, 'I understand it much better. My riding style has changed a lot. I'm a lot cleaner than I was.' He identifies improving the bike's behavior when lifting it as a key focus for the future.
