Binder on the back foot: KTM crew chief names the fix that could save his season
· Yahoo Sports
Phil Marron: No need for major changes for Brad Binder at start of 2026 MotoGP season
Binder’s 2025 campaign fell short of expectations, finishing 11th in the riders’ championship with 155 points, leading to changes in his setup this season. Marron replaced Andres Madrid as crew chief, hoping to spark an upturn in form.
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KTM’s faith is under strain. Binder has never been more than a points scorer so far this term, while Pedro Acosta – his teammate – already has a Grand Prix podium to his name. The two-time world champion has finished sixth twice, was eighth once and DNFed once. However, Marron believes that minor adjustments will be enough for Binder to get back on track.
Marron is confident that only small tweaks are needed for Binder to regain his form and that the South African remains a valuable asset for KTM despite recent results.
Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty ImagesMarron: Binder’s qualifying and cornering consistency key to season turnaround
Acosta was awarded the win in the Buriram Sprint after Marc Marquez received a penalty for forcing him wide while taking the lead late in the race. Meanwhile, KTM Tech3’s Enea Bastianini secured a Sprint podium at COTA, benefiting from Acosta’s penalty for illegal tyre pressures.
Binder has only managed one finish inside the top 10 this season, coming in Thailand with P6 in the Sprint and P7 in the Grand Prix. He hasn’t placed higher than 12th in any other race so far. Marron believes that better qualifying performances and improved cornering consistency could unlock more potential.
When asked about Binder’s main challenges so far this season, Marron told SPEEDWEEK:
“We’ve only had three events, I can’t say yet,” Marron said. “I can’t pinpoint one thing.”
Marron elaborated on what Binder needs to focus on: “It’s about finding consistency. We also need to make our package reproducible. He needs to have confidence in the bike on every corner.
“We don’t need to make any huge steps. The level is so high that it is just a matter of details.
“In Buriram, we had bad luck in qualifying. We had a small technical problem that cost us the chance to be at least one row further up the grid.
“We need to make sure we always give our best in qualifying. Brad is a Sunday rider, he loves racing. If we do a good job in qualifying, the rest will follow.”
Binder started P11 on the grid and Thailand but was only quicker than Bastianini during Q1 at Interlagos. And again failed to reach Q2 at COTA when Jack Miller of Pramac Racing, VR46 rider Franco Morbidelli and Yamaha’s Alex Rins set slower times than him.
KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer admits that Binder’s early form in 2026 is “frustrating”, as Acosta has shown what the RC16 is capable of. Beirer also feels Binder needs to change his braking style as his trademark way of sliding with the rear tyre is no longer effective.
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