This weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix marked a significant home victory for KTM at the Red Bull Ring, echoing the memorable win by Binder four years ago. Binder’s first MotoGP triumph came in 2021 during his rookie season at Brno, just a year before KTM’s home success. Despite not securing another Grand Prix win since, Binder climbed to fourth place in the 2023 rider standings.
The 2025 season has proven tougher, with Binder arriving in Spielberg ranked 12th in the World Championships, trailing behind his new factory teammate Pedro A Costa, who is seventh, and Tech3’s Maverick Vinares, in 11th. Binder acknowledges that his naturally aggressive riding style clashes with the RC16 bike’s current design, which demands a smoother riding technique.
“It’s clear that the faster way to ride these bikes doesn’t involve forcing it,” Binder explained. “You have to place the bike precisely and flow with it. Otherwise, you risk spinning the rear tire, losing traction, or locking the front. Starting these moves can make the bike unstable, so it requires very clean riding.”
He’s also working to reduce setup changes to improve reliability. “I want to simplify things because the current setups don’t give me what I need. I’m stepping back to focus on riding the bike in a way that I always know what’s under me,” he said.
“I don’t constantly overhaul the setup; instead, I focus on refining a solid base. I’m aiming to improve by staying within my limits and progressing steadily, although it’s tough not to get carried away,” Binder added. Practice sessions for the MotoGP at the Red Bull Ring will start Friday morning.
Fan Take: This update is vital for racing fans because it highlights the evolving challenges top riders face adapting to new bike technologies and strategies. Binder’s struggle and approach to mastering the RC16 show the delicate balance between rider skill and machine capability, which could influence how teams develop bikes and training methods in future seasons.
