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Brad Binder Admits Overserving Rear Tyre During Silverstone MotoGP Grand Prix
Red Bull KTM rider Brad Binder reflected on a cautious approach at Silverstone after securing his strongest grand prix finish since Catalunya.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-08-13 14:55:44.000 - 2 min read
Brad Binder kicked off the second half of the MotoGP season with an eighth-place finish at Silverstone, marking his best grand prix result since the Catalunya round. While the Red Bull KTM rider crossed the line sixteen seconds behind teammate and leading RC16 finisher Pedro Acosta, the South African left the British Grand Prix with signs of forward momentum.
Reflecting on his Sunday performance, Binder admitted that his strategy to preserve the rear tyre ultimately proved overly conservative. By trying to protect his rubber for the closing stages, the factory rider found himself left with unexpected grip reserves as the race concluded, prompting the assessment that he had been excessively gentle on the compound.
The grand prix result follows ongoing paddock speculation linking the KTM rider to a switch to WorldSBK with BMW next season. Despite the swirling reports regarding his future, Binder's immediate focus remains firmly on resolving the handling traits that have hindered his campaign through the opening rounds of the year.
Technical adjustments over the weekend yielded a noticeable improvement in machine stability, particularly regarding rear-end movement during corner entry. Binder noted that a major step forward in setup reduced the persistent floating sensation at the rear, allowing the front end to remain more composed under braking and turning.
Lacking rear grip previously forced the South African to compromise his trajectories, resulting in lost time across entry, apex and exit phases of a corner. With the recent setup direction offering a more manageable platform, Binder heads to the upcoming round at Aragon sitting thirteenth in the championship standings.