Brad Binder, the South African MotoGP rider, has acknowledged the need for change following the replacement of his long-time KTM crew chief Andres Madrid with Phil Marron. This transition, which took place ahead of the 2026 season, aims to reinvigorate Binder’s approach after a challenging 2025 campaign. The crew chief switch was first implemented during the November Valencia test, signaling a new chapter for Binder at KTM.
Binder had been working closely with Andres Madrid since 2021, a collaboration that yielded success including a memorable victory at the Austrian Grand Prix that year. However, last season proved difficult, culminating with Binder’s best finish being fourth place at the Indonesian Grand Prix.
Reflecting on Past Partnerships and Challenges
Speaking at KTM’s 2026 launch event, Binder reflected candidly on his lengthy working relationship with Madrid.
“Well, I mean, I had a great run with Andres,”
he said.
“He’s one of my best mates on and off the track. So, we have a great relationship. We had a lot of really good times together.”
Despite this camaraderie, Binder recognized that their working methods had become too routine.
“However, it seemed maybe we were a little bit stuck in our ways, and we knew each other extremely well, what I liked, what I didn’t like, and maybe our box was getting a little bit narrower,”
he explained.
Binder expressed optimism about teaming up with Phil Marron, who has experience as the crew chief for Toprak Razgatlioglu.
“Starting off fresh now with Phil is going to be fun. It will take some getting used to, seeing a different face in the box because I’ve been with my same crew for a long time,”
he added.
“But I’m excited for this next adventure. Phil is a really cool guy, I’ve chatted to him quite a bit this off-season; he puts in a massive amount of effort,”
Binder noted.
Assessing a Difficult Season and Planning Ahead
Binder described 2025 as
“one of the hardest times of my career,”
underscoring the challenges he faced after failing to reach the podium. He credited the off-season with providing valuable time to evaluate and reset.
“Well, this off-season, pretty much when the year ended, I felt like I needed a break, to be honest, because last year the harder things got, the harder I worked, the more effort I put in,”
Binder shared.
“And it just really wasn’t quite clicking. Definitely one of the hardest times of my career last season, there’s no doubting that.”
He emphasized his awareness of his capabilities based on previous achievements:
“And worse, I know I’m capable of so much more, because I haven’t done it once – I’ve done it 10 times.”
Taking time away helped him identify where improvements were necessary.
“When you do struggle like that, it’s really tough. However, it was really good to just take a couple of weeks to reflect on the year,”
Binder said.
“And when I took time to step away, it was easier to see where I was going wrong. My goal for this off-season has been to put a great programme together, start from scratch again, building a good base on the endurance side, and just spending as much time on a motorcycle as I could.”
Looking ahead, Binder is focused on a mindset shift to regain his form.
“My goal for this year is to be more in the moment, enjoy riding my bike as much as I can, and I think the rest will sort itself out,”
he stated.
Impact on KTM’s MotoGP Strategy and Future Prospects
KTM’s decision to reassign Andres Madrid to Enea Bastianini’s Tech3 team before Alberto Giribuola joins Pramac with Toprak Razgatlioglu in 2026 highlights the manufacturer’s strategic reshuffling within their MotoGP operations. Introducing Phil Marron, who brings experience from his time with Razgatlioglu, indicates KTM’s intention to leverage fresh perspectives to improve rider performance.
For Brad Binder, this crew chief change and his reflective approach during the off-season represent critical steps toward regaining competitiveness in the MotoGP grid. As the new season unfolds, Binder’s partnership with Marron will be closely watched to see how the fresh dynamic influences his race results and consistency.
