Brad Binder joins BMW: KTM’s first MotoGP winner is being phased out

The future of Brad Binder is now finally clear: the South African will leave MotoGP and the KTM family at the end of the 2026 season and move to the World Superbike Championship. BMW has confirmed the 30-year-old as a works rider for 2027. There, Binder will be team-mate to his long-time colleague Miguel Oliveira on the M1000RR.

This marks the end of a long era for Binder. The South African has been a constant fixture in the Grand Prix paddock since 2012. His path took him through Moto3 and Moto2 before he made the step up to MotoGP in 2020. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that Binder has spent his entire career in the premier class with KTM.

Binder spent his first years in the World Championship in Moto3. After securing his first podium finishes, he developed into one of the strongest riders in the junior class. He made his big breakthrough in 2016.

In his fifth Moto3 season, Binder dominated the World Championship on his KTM and comfortably secured the title with seven wins. His race at Jerez remains unforgettable: due to a technical irregularity, he had to start the race from the back of the grid – and still won.

Via Moto2 to the premier class

In 2017, Binder moved up to Moto2 and became part of the new KTM project in the middleweight category. He secured three podium finishes in his rookie season, followed by his first three Moto2 victories in 2018.

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Kennen sich bestens: Oliveira und Binder waren bereits Teamkollegen

Foto: Gold & Goose

Binder enjoyed his strongest season in the middleweight class in 2019. After a difficult start to the season, he fought his way back into the title race with five victories. In the end, he finished as runner-up behind Alex Márquez.

KTM subsequently promoted Binder to the MotoGP works team for 2020. It didn’t take long for the South African to make a splash in the premier class too. He caused a sensation in just his third MotoGP race: in Brno, Binder won the Czech Grand Prix. It was not only his first MotoGP victory, but also KTM’s first triumph in the premier class. In doing so, Binder wrote an important chapter in the Austrian manufacturer’s MotoGP history.

Two MotoGP victories – and an unforgettable wet race

Binder celebrated his second Grand Prix victory in 2021 at the Red Bull Ring. This success, too, proved to be a memorable one. When rain set in during the final laps, Binder – unlike many of his rivals – chose not to switch to a bike fitted with wet-weather tyres. On slicks, he battled his way across the increasingly wet track and secured a spectacular victory at the finish line.

Er trotzte dem Regen: Brad Binder gewann 2021 beim KTM-Heimspiel mit Slicks

Foto: Gold & Goose

In the years that followed, Binder developed into one of the mainstays of the KTM project. Whilst team-mates came and went, the South African remained loyal to the manufacturer. In particular, his uncompromising riding style, his strength under braking and his ability to still secure results even in difficult situations made him a key figure in the factory team.

Binder enjoyed his best MotoGP season in 2023. He finished the World Championship in fourth place and stood on the podium on several occasions. He also won the sprint races in Argentina and Jerez.

However, Binder had not managed to follow up on a Grand Prix victory since Spielberg in 2021. As the field in MotoGP became increasingly competitive, it became ever more difficult for the South African to regularly challenge for the top places. Binder was never able to adapt properly to the new Michelin rear tyres introduced in 2024. His natural, spectacular riding style was no longer competitive following the tyre change.

A new challenge after seven MotoGP seasons

After seven seasons in the premier class, Binder is now embarking on a radically different path in 2027. For the first time, he is leaving Grand Prix racing to take on the challenge of riding a production-based racing motorbike.

BMW has high hopes for the 2016 Moto3 World Champion. “We are particularly impressed by his unwavering determination to start a new chapter in the Superbike World Championship,” explained Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport. “His goal is clear: he wants to fight for the world title.”

BMW-Rennchef Sven Blusch

Foto: BMW

First, however, Binder will need to familiarise himself with the specifics of the production-based World Championship and his new machine. “He’ll need to get used to the BMW M1000RR and the new World Championship – we’re confident he’ll manage that quickly,” emphasised Blusch.

At BMW, Binder will be reunited with a very familiar team-mate. He has already shared a garage with Miguel Oliveira in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP. In 2027, the two seasoned riders will now compete together in the World Superbike Championship for the first time. Binder takes over from Danilo Petrucci, whose time with the BMW works team comes to an end after the current season. However, the manufacturer is exploring options to continue working with the Italian on another project.

For Binder, the remaining races of his final MotoGP season are still on the agenda. After that, a remarkable chapter will come to an end: Binder has been a fixture on the Grand Prix circuit since 2012, spending much of that time with KTM. He spent his entire MotoGP career, from 2020 to 2026, riding for the Mattighofen-based team. In 2027, a completely new phase of Binder’s career will begin with BMW, the M1000RR and the Superbike World Championship.