Brad Binder Analyzes KTM’s Performance Issues in the Latest MotoGP Races
Brad Binder, KTM’s lead rider in MotoGP, recently admitted that some of the problems the team has faced in 2024 were unexpected, but he assured that these difficulties should not last long. KTM began the season with high expectations, being touted as the main rival to the dominant Ducati. However, the reality of the races has proven more complicated, with Aprilia surpassing the Austrian manufacturer in several rounds.
At the beginning of the year, Binder secured a podium at the Qatar Grand Prix, which seemed to indicate a promising season. However, KTM’s performance began to fluctuate. “We started the year well, which was great,” Binder said about his podium in the season opener. “But after that, we ran into more issues than we expected.”
One of the biggest challenges Binder mentioned is the sensitivity of the bike’s front end, which is operating on the edge. “We’ve been playing with a fine line with the front of our bike. It seems that if you can stay on the bike, you can go really fast. But it’s very easy to crash, especially with the front. That’s our biggest challenge,” Binder explained.
He also highlighted that the quest for improvements in some areas of the bike has resulted in losses in others. “We have found some margin in certain areas. At the same time, we’ve lost in others,” said the rider, illustrating the complexity of the adjustments needed to keep the bike competitive.
Despite these difficulties, Binder remains optimistic about the near future. He believes that small changes could be enough to get KTM back into podium contention. “At the moment, our ultimate setup, to go as fast as we can, leaves us with very little warning at the front. It’s easy to crash. But, while things don’t look amazing right now, they’re not as bad as they seem. We’re small changes away from getting our results back,” Binder revealed.
In addition to the technical issues, Binder also mentioned the performance of his teammate at Tech3, Pedro Acosta. Despite shining at the start of the season, the young prodigy has also seen his form dip in recent races, reflecting the challenges faced by the entire team.
In conclusion, Brad Binder made it clear that, although the season has been tough so far, he and KTM are determined to overcome these challenges. “We strive to achieve. We want to be up front. Nobody wants to be where we are at the moment,” said the rider, demonstrating his determination to bring KTM back to the top of MotoGP racing.
