Brad Binder has called the 2025 MotoGP season the worst of his premier class career, insisting it did not reflect his true potential.
The South African had previously been KTM’s standout rider, known for consistent performances and reliability. Even during Pedro Acosta’s sensational rookie season in 2024, Binder outscored his teammate to finish as KTM’s highest points scorer.
However, Binder struggled throughout 2025, failing to get the best out of the KTM RC16. He finished with 155 points, down from 217 the previous year, and for the first time in his MotoGP career, he did not reach the podium. His 11th-place finish in the championship marked his lowest since his rookie season in 2020.
While the final part of the season saw some improvement, including top-five finishes in Indonesia and Portugal, it was not enough to salvage his overall campaign.
Reflecting on the year, the 30-year-old said:
“Grand prix racing, maybe, but in MotoGP, 100%. I feel like I can do a lot better than I did. Things didn’t quite gel this season for sure. I’m super disappointed to finish where I did in the championship. We made some small improvements at the end, and I was getting a bit faster, but still not competitive. I’ve got some work to do.”
Binder prefers a bike with strong rear stability, but in 2025 he often felt overloaded on the front, struggling with the RC16’s front-end limitations. To address this, KTM introduced a revised package at the Valencia test, which left Binder more optimistic.
“The bike felt good. We tried a couple more aero packages, which gave me a better feeling of balance between the two wheels rather than just being on the nose. I liked the feeling. The guys can check all the numbers and see where we can go from there.”
He added:
“For a long time now, it’s felt like we’re riding on one wheel. It was nice to feel planted between both. We didn’t have time to experiment much—it was just bolting stuff on. I feel like there’s a step forward, and it’s going to be good once we get more time on it.”
Despite a challenging season, Binder appears motivated and confident that KTM’s updates can help him return to form in 2026.