KTM motorsport director Pete Beyer says Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales should challenge Brad Binder for a move to World Superbikes in 2027 so they can emerge as their “second leader”.
binding He currently faces an uncertain future in MotoGP, as he is out of contract. KTM After the 2026 season. The 30-year-old has so far struggled to make a new deal, especially his stay at the factory KTM team, a success.
In the year Since his debut in the premier class for the Austrian team in 2020, the South African has been at the helm of the KTM project. But Pedro Acosta’s arrival at KTM in 2025 has seen Binder set to stage the most unprecedented campaign of his MotoGP career so far.
His 2026 campaign has yet to prove fruitful, with Binder sitting 12th in the standings with just 17 points through the first three rounds, while Acosta is third with 60 points. Acosta could see that Binder “struggled”. On RC16 in 2026, as well.
KTM has the option to extend Enya Bastianini’s contract but could lose Tech3 – should he join the factory KTM team in 2027?
Pete Baer believes Maverick Vinales could be KTM’s ‘second team leader’ after injury
as well as, “It’s not where we want to be,” Behrer admittedWith Tech 3’s Vinales and Enea Bastianini. Vinales returned in 2018 after a ligament in his left shoulder loosened and the tendon rubbed from surgery he required last July. 2026 had a rough start.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Maverick Vinales from career stats to net worth
Bearer KTM says it still “believes”. VinylsThe one who took the cone off his shoulder. Now, Bayer wants to see the 31-year-old emerge as their “second-in-command” behind Acosta. KTM has now put the Vinales factory promotion on hold for 2027.
“He was absolutely fine at the Sepang test,” Beyrer said. Motorsport.com. “No pain, he was happy again and had a big smile on his face. And then just a few weeks later, he slowly lost strength again, his movement became less and less, and we couldn’t really explain why or what.
But suddenly we found out that his spiral started to move and came out of the bone. The boy is not lucky, and this time comes a frustrating time for us, because we want to prove that we can finally do it with Maverick. And yet, it seems we have to wait for that…
But yes, we believe in Maverick, and we want him to come back and prove to us that he will be the right person to lead our second team.
Brad Binder has accepted that his KTM career is over and must move to World Superbikes in 2027.
Vinales’ ongoing problems with his shoulder injury have seen him move his brakes to the factory KTM team for next season. KTM is expected to sign Alex MarquezAlso, Binder should see Beirer’s vote of confidence in the Tech3 star as the last straw that sees him leave.
Read more: The best moments of Brad Binder’s MotoGP career
Complete the sentence: In 2027, Brad Binder will…
Binder has fallen at the front of the MotoGP field in recent seasons. It is still considered so. KTM may downgrade Binder to Tech3 for 2027But even that landing spot could fall again. Honda almost convinced Tech3 to leave KTM.
If Tech3 joins the Honda fold and Vinales is at a point where he believes he can come back from injury, then KTM could leave Binder out in the cold. So he accepts that his days in MotoGP are numbered and starts aiming for a new chapter in 2027.
The World Superbike Championship may now be the best place for Binder to return to work and extend his career on two wheels, which is going nowhere fast in MotoGP. The South African may be hoping that the 2027 MotoGP regulations will give him a fresh start, but with whom?
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