KTM rider Brad Binder achieved his best result of the MotoGP season with a fourth-place finish at the Indonesian Grand Prix, raising hopes for a notable Brad Binder MotoGP turnaround. The race took place last Sunday at the challenging Mandalika circuit, where Binder advanced from 15th on the grid to finish just outside the podium in a chaotic 27-lap event.
Significant Improvement at Mandalika
Binder, a two-time premier class grand prix winner, described the season so far as “really hard,” having struggled to break into the top five in any full-distance race before this weekend. His leap to fourth place marked a critical improvement that he attributes to adjustments made during the warm-up session.
“We made quite a big change in warm-up and straight away I felt a lot more confident in the front-end,”
Binder explained.
“I felt like I was turning a little bit better and the front felt a bit more planted, so it gave me good confidence in the race to go and push.”
He added,
“Happy to have been able to come through the field, and most importantly better my starting position by a long way.”
Reflecting on the race, he said,
“First time in a while I’ve been able to go forward.”
Challenges of the Mandalika Circuit and Cautious Optimism
Despite his strong performance, Binder cautioned against interpreting the result as a guaranteed upward trend, emphasizing the unique conditions faced at Mandalika. The circuit’s extremely low-grip surface and use of a harder rear tyre casing made the race an unusual case.
“I think it’s a special place for sure, but I really hope that this is changing point for me because I’ve had a really, really, really hard season,”
he noted. He praised the opportunity to compete closely with the front runners, stating,
“It’s good to finish fourth again. It’s great to fight with the boys, but it’s very special out here.”
Binder highlighted the contrast with upcoming events, particularly at Phillip Island, where track conditions and tyre choices differ significantly.
“Super low grip levels, funny tyres. Let’s see when we get back to Europe. I felt more confident on the bike for sure, but Phillip Island is a completely different ball game.”
“The track there is super-fast, super flowing. We’ve got the normal casing back on the rear, so that always makes the grip a lot better. It’s going to be interesting. But if I have good feeling like this and I can push a bit, it makes a very big difference.”
Looking Ahead to the European Circuit Challenges
Binder’s recent success at Mandalika has energized both the rider and KTM, setting a hopeful tone as the championship progresses toward its European rounds. The improvement in front-end confidence and race pace at this event suggests that adjustments in bike setup can yield better results under varying conditions.
As the MotoGP paddock moves back to faster, more flowing tracks like Phillip Island and others in Europe, the true test will be whether Binder can maintain this momentum on circuits where tyre grip and track speed present new challenges.
With the positive signals from Mandalika and his ability to push forward in difficult circumstances, Brad Binder MotoGP turnaround ambitions remain alive as the season continues.
