Early exit for Brad Binder in high-intensity sprint

KTM’s Brad Binder failed to finish the Argentina MotoGP sprint after losing control at turn seven, marking a frustrating weekend for the South African rider.

Brad Binder of South Africa and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rides during free practice for the MotoGP of Argentina at Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo on March 14, 2025, in Rio Hondo, Argentina. Photo by Gold & Goose/LAT Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Brad Binder's weekend at the Argentina MotoGP took a frustrating turn after the KTM rider crashed out of the sprint race at Termas de Río Hondo. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing star was looking to recover from a difficult qualifying session but saw his race end prematurely due to a mistake at turn seven.

Binder, who started from 11th on the grid, had struggled in Q2, finishing 0.7 seconds off pole-sitter Marc Márquez. His teammate, Pedro Acosta, had a much stronger showing, securing a spot on the second row in fifth place.

"I'm not happy with my performance in qualifying—it was completely my fault," Binder admitted after the session. "I made small mistakes that cost me valuable time. The data showed that I had the pace to be higher up, but I just didn’t execute."

Despite his starting position, Binder has a reputation for making strong comebacks. In 2023, he produced a stunning recovery ride at the same circuit, climbing through the field after starting from 14th. However, this time, things did not go according to plan.

The sprint race was off to a chaotic start, with light drizzle making conditions tricky. Binder managed to gain a few positions in the opening corners and looked set for a solid recovery. However, disaster struck on the exit of turn seven when he lost control of the rear of his KTM RC16 while accelerating.

"I actually got off to a decent start," Binder explained. "But I ran a little wide coming out of turn seven and lost traction. I tried to correct it, but there was just too little space. Then there was some contact, and my front wheel lost grip—once that happened, it was game over."

Franco Morbidelli was the other rider involved in the incident. The VR46 Racing Team Ducati rider was on the inside as Binder attempted to regain his position, but while Morbidelli managed to stay upright and finish seventh, Binder went down.

Race Direction reviewed the clash but deemed it a racing incident, meaning no penalties were handed out to either rider.

Tough start to the season for Binder and KTM

With his sprint race ending in disappointment, Binder left Argentina with no additional points. He now sits ninth in the championship with ten points after three rounds, trailing behind several Ducati and Aprilia riders in the standings.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has struggled to find its rhythm in the opening races of the 2025 season, especially in the sprints, which have become increasingly crucial under MotoGP’s new points structure.

Binder will now shift his focus to the main race, scheduled for 3 p.m. local time. Despite his struggles, he remains optimistic about turning things around on Sunday.

"The pace is there—we just need to put everything together," he said. "The main race is another opportunity to get some good points, and I’ll be pushing hard to make up for today’s mistake."

As KTM continues its search for competitiveness against the dominant Ducati and Aprilia squads, Binder will be looking to bounce back and deliver a strong performance in Argentina’s main event.