Brad Binder of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is gearing up for a pivotal weekend at the Red Bull Ring, where he hopes to recapture the form that made him a serious contender last year. Known for his ability to rise to the occasion at this particular circuit, Binder is setting his sights high as he aims to challenge the top riders, including defending champion Francesco Bagnaia.
“That’s the goal,” Binder stated confidently when asked if he could repeat last year’s performance, where he was the only rider to truly push Bagnaia in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix. “We always seem to find something at this Grand Prix every year, honestly, I think it suits our bike really well. Our bike works with the late braking and the stopping and going, it really helps us.”
Binder acknowledges that the last few events haven’t gone as planned, but he’s optimistic that the Red Bull Ring can be a turning point. “For sure the last few events haven’t gone our way at all, and we expect to do a lot better. I am really excited to get back on track; it is a track that I have always had good memories at. I have been able to rise to the occasion even when it has been a tough season until now.”
Reflecting on the season’s rocky path after a promising start with a double podium in Qatar, Binder has been candid about the challenges KTM has faced. “Qatar was really good; it was great to get two seconds, but in the race, I could see there were some places in particular where we were struggling compared to our competitors,” he explained. “The biggest thing for us was that I kept falling off a lot, and we needed to find a way to get some confidence with the front. That is one thing we have got right.”
Binder is optimistic that the hard work his team and the factory have put in will soon pay off. “The team is working incredibly hard, and the guys at the factory are non-stop, so for me, it is a matter of time until we get the podiums and hopefully the wins again.”
As he looks ahead to the weekend, Binder is well aware that it’s been too long since his last main race victory. “Definitely, it has been a long time since 2021, and ok, we have got a couple of Sprint wins, but they don’t count, so let’s try and get one of the main wins again.”
With determination and the support of his team, Binder is ready to turn his season around at the Red Bull Ring, a track that has often been kind to him in the past.