South African rider Brad Binder targeted a switch to Ducati?s Superbike program after his factory seat at Red Bull KTM in MotoGP became uncertain for the 2027 season, sources said Thursday. Binder remains under contract with KTM through 2026, but reports indicated the team planned to replace him with younger riders, prompting speculation about his future beyond the premier class.
Despite this, reports from MotoGP media in 2025 and 2026 have described his medium-term future in the premier class as uncertain due to KTM?s restructuring plans and the introduction of younger riders. South African news outlet The Citizen reported that Binder ?will not feature for the factory Red Bull KTM team next year,? citing that Alex Márquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio are expected to replace Binder and Pedro Acosta at KTM?s factory squad after 2026. The report framed this as a loss of a factory seat rather than a confirmed exit from MotoGP altogether.
Binder?s contract with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in MotoGP runs through the end of the 2026 season, following an early extension signed at the Red Bull Ring and announced on Aug. 19, 2023, according to official MotoGP documentation.
Further speculation about Binder?s future surfaced from a social media report citing journalist Manuel Pecino, who claimed Binder was informed at Montmeló that he would not continue with KTM beyond the 2026 season. According to this report, KTM allegedly told Binder he ?is not part of the manufacturer?s plans for 2027,? reflecting a strategic shift toward other riders. The same source indicated that Binder?s future remains unclear, with the Superbike World Championship ?reportedly being considered? among several options. However, no official KTM or Dorna press releases have confirmed any changes to Binder?s contract or his status beyond 2026, and the 2023 contract extension remains the last verified statement on his MotoGP tenure.
Binder?s public stance, as reported by The Citizen and other outlets, emphasizes his determination to remain in MotoGP. The rider is described as ?hopeful to keep his MotoGP seat? amid the ongoing discussions about KTM?s lineup changes. His manager, Bob Moore, told crash.net that Binder is ?firmly committed to Factory Red Bull KTM until the end of his contract,? underscoring the rider?s intent to honor his agreement through 2026. Analysis of Binder?s situation in MotoGP consistently refers to uncertainty and potential reshuffling rather than any declared intention by Binder to leave grand prix racing.
Regarding the possibility of a switch to Ducati?s Superbike program, current research across MotoGP, WorldSBK, and motorsport media reveals no official announcements or contracts linking Binder to Ducati?s WorldSBK team. The only mention of a Superbike move comes from the Pecino-sourced report, which states that a transition to the Superbike World Championship is ?reportedly being considered? but does not specify Ducati or any particular team. No press releases from Ducati factory squads, WorldSBK teams, or official FIM Superbike documentation list Binder as a signed or targeted rider for upcoming seasons.
Ducati-related Superbike news in the same period focuses on other riders, notably Brad Binder?s younger brother, Darryn Binder, who has officially signed to race Ducati machinery in MotoAmerica Supersport with Celtic Racing?s Warhorse HSBK Ducati team. Darryn has publicly expressed enthusiasm about his move, but these developments are separate from Brad Binder?s career path. Media reports that mention ?Binder? and Ducati in Superbike contexts consistently identify Darryn as the rider involved, highlighting that no equivalent Ducati Superbike contract exists for Brad Binder.
Brad Binder, born Aug. 11, 1995, is the 2016 Moto3 World Champion and has been a key figure in KTM?s MotoGP project since his debut in 2020. He has multiple race wins and regular podium finishes, traits that have historically made MotoGP riders attractive candidates for WorldSBK teams. Despite this, reports note that inconsistent results and KTM?s machinery limitations have contributed to KTM?s reassessment of its rider lineup. Binder?s experience and racecraft make a post-2026 move to a top-tier Superbike project plausible from a sporting perspective, but no verified agreements or official plans have been documented.
In summary, while rumors and media speculation suggest that Brad Binder may explore opportunities in the Superbike World Championship, including a potential Ducati switch, no official confirmation or contract exists. Binder remains under contract with KTM through 2026 and has expressed a desire to continue in MotoGP, with his future beyond that season still subject to negotiation and market developments. KTM?s internal decisions and the arrival of younger riders have created uncertainty around his factory seat, but Binder has not publicly announced any definitive plans to leave the premier class.
South African rider Brad Binder targeted a switch to Ducati?s Superbike program after his factory seat at Red Bull KTM in MotoGP became uncertain for the 2027 season, sources said Thursday. Binder remains under contract with KTM through 2026, but reports indicated the team planned to replace him with younger riders, prompting speculation about his future beyond the premier class.
Despite this, reports from MotoGP media in 2025 and 2026 have described his medium-term future in the premier class as uncertain due to KTM?s restructuring plans and the introduction of younger riders. South African news outlet The Citizen reported that Binder ?will not feature for the factory Red Bull KTM team next year,? citing that Alex Márquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio are expected to replace Binder and Pedro Acosta at KTM?s factory squad after 2026. The report framed this as a loss of a factory seat rather than a confirmed exit from MotoGP altogether.
Binder?s contract with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in MotoGP runs through the end of the 2026 season, following an early extension signed at the Red Bull Ring and announced on Aug. 19, 2023, according to official MotoGP documentation.
Further speculation about Binder?s future surfaced from a social media report citing journalist Manuel Pecino, who claimed Binder was informed at Montmeló that he would not continue with KTM beyond the 2026 season. According to this report, KTM allegedly told Binder he ?is not part of the manufacturer?s plans for 2027,? reflecting a strategic shift toward other riders. The same source indicated that Binder?s future remains unclear, with the Superbike World Championship ?reportedly being considered? among several options. However, no official KTM or Dorna press releases have confirmed any changes to Binder?s contract or his status beyond 2026, and the 2023 contract extension remains the last verified statement on his MotoGP tenure.
Binder?s public stance, as reported by The Citizen and other outlets, emphasizes his determination to remain in MotoGP. The rider is described as ?hopeful to keep his MotoGP seat? amid the ongoing discussions about KTM?s lineup changes. His manager, Bob Moore, told crash.net that Binder is ?firmly committed to Factory Red Bull KTM until the end of his contract,? underscoring the rider?s intent to honor his agreement through 2026. Analysis of Binder?s situation in MotoGP consistently refers to uncertainty and potential reshuffling rather than any declared intention by Binder to leave grand prix racing.
Regarding the possibility of a switch to Ducati?s Superbike program, current research across MotoGP, WorldSBK, and motorsport media reveals no official announcements or contracts linking Binder to Ducati?s WorldSBK team. The only mention of a Superbike move comes from the Pecino-sourced report, which states that a transition to the Superbike World Championship is ?reportedly being considered? but does not specify Ducati or any particular team. No press releases from Ducati factory squads, WorldSBK teams, or official FIM Superbike documentation list Binder as a signed or targeted rider for upcoming seasons.
Ducati-related Superbike news in the same period focuses on other riders, notably Brad Binder?s younger brother, Darryn Binder, who has officially signed to race Ducati machinery in MotoAmerica Supersport with Celtic Racing?s Warhorse HSBK Ducati team. Darryn has publicly expressed enthusiasm about his move, but these developments are separate from Brad Binder?s career path. Media reports that mention ?Binder? and Ducati in Superbike contexts consistently identify Darryn as the rider involved, highlighting that no equivalent Ducati Superbike contract exists for Brad Binder.
Brad Binder, born Aug. 11, 1995, is the 2016 Moto3 World Champion and has been a key figure in KTM?s MotoGP project since his debut in 2020. He has multiple race wins and regular podium finishes, traits that have historically made MotoGP riders attractive candidates for WorldSBK teams. Despite this, reports note that inconsistent results and KTM?s machinery limitations have contributed to KTM?s reassessment of its rider lineup. Binder?s experience and racecraft make a post-2026 move to a top-tier Superbike project plausible from a sporting perspective, but no verified agreements or official plans have been documented.
In summary, while rumors and media speculation suggest that Brad Binder may explore opportunities in the Superbike World Championship, including a potential Ducati switch, no official confirmation or contract exists. Binder remains under contract with KTM through 2026 and has expressed a desire to continue in MotoGP, with his future beyond that season still subject to negotiation and market developments. KTM?s internal decisions and the arrival of younger riders have created uncertainty around his factory seat, but Binder has not publicly announced any definitive plans to leave the premier class.
Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. was announced as the exclusive motorcycle supplier for the FIM Moto3 World Championship starting with the 2028 season through 2033, officials said Friday at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen. The move will make Moto3 a single-bike class, with Yamaha providing both engine and chassis to all teams as part of a new long-term project to develop the next generation of Grand Prix racing.
Under the agreement announced June 25, 2026, at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen, Yamaha will supply the complete motorcycle?including engine and chassis?to all teams competing in the Moto3 World Championship from the 2028 season through 2033, according to officials from MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group and Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. This marks a significant shift from the current multi-manufacturer format, with Yamaha becoming the exclusive supplier and effectively transforming Moto3 into a single-bike class, officials said.
The engine will deliver approximately 90 horsepower and the bike will have a minimum weight of 120 kilograms, exceeding the performance specifications of current Moto3 motorcycles.
The new Yamaha Moto3 machine will be a purpose-built racing prototype based on a highly modified version of Yamaha?s CP2 engine platform, which is used in the YZF-R7 family of production motorcycles. According to MotoGP and Yamaha representatives, the engine will deliver approximately 90 horsepower and the bike will have a minimum weight of 120 kilograms, exceeding the performance specifications of current Moto3 motorcycles. The engine core architecture is reported to be a 689 cc inline twin derived from the YZF-R7, but substantially redesigned for Grand Prix competition. Yamaha will also be responsible for designing the prototype chassis, confirming that the bike will not be a lightly modified production model.
The announcement follows a competitive tender process managed by Dorna Sports, the commercial rights holder for MotoGP, which attracted multiple bids before Yamaha was selected as the winner. MotoGP officials described the project as a ?next generation of Grand Prix racing? initiative aimed at both cost reduction and performance improvement. Carlos Ezpeleta, MotoGP?s chief sporting officer, stated that one of the primary motivations for the switch to a one-make Yamaha supply is to reduce team budgets and make the junior category more sustainable financially.
Cost analyses cited in internal briefings suggest the new Yamaha Moto3 bike will be priced around ?50,000 per complete unit, a significant reduction compared to current estimated costs of up to ?170,000 for existing machinery supplied by multiple manufacturers, including Honda and KTM. The single-supplier model is expected to lower development and parts supply expenses by standardizing equipment across the grid, according to MotoGP sources.
The transition to Yamaha machinery will require all Moto3 teams to adopt the new bikes for the 2028 season, effectively ending approximately 14 years of Honda and KTM dominance in the class, records show. Teams will need to manage the logistical and technical transition during the 2027?2028 off-season, adapting their operations to Yamaha?s platform. MotoGP officials noted that the move will shift competition focus from hardware diversity to rider skill, team setup, and development.
In addition to the Moto3 World Championship, the Yamaha supply agreement extends to the JuniorGP Moto3 category starting in 2029. This lower-spec version of the Yamaha prototype will be integrated into the MotoJunior structure, aligning the feeder series with the world championship?s machinery and supporting a unified rider development pathway. MotoGP and Yamaha officials emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader ecosystem designed to identify, prepare, and promote young riders toward higher classes such as Moto2 and MotoGP.
Yamaha and MotoGP have outlined a development and testing timeline that begins in 2026. Prototype testing is scheduled for late 2026, with the first on-track test expected in September or October, according to reports from Crash.net. The new bike?s public unveiling is planned for 2027, followed by a phased release of technical details and visuals ahead of full grid deployment in 2028.
The move to a single supplier represents a strategic realignment of the Moto3 category?s technical regulations and competitive structure. Officials from MotoGP described the change as inaugurating a ?new Moto3 era? with a standardized technical base across all teams. Existing manufacturers that currently supply Moto3 machinery are expected to withdraw from the class as suppliers once the Yamaha contract takes effect.
Discussions are ongoing with other regional championships to adopt Yamaha-based machinery, aiming to create a consistent platform for young riders worldwide. MotoGP officials said this alignment will help streamline talent identification and development, linking the junior categories to the premier Grand Prix classes through a common technical and competitive framework.
Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. was announced as the exclusive motorcycle supplier for the FIM Moto3 World Championship starting with the 2028 season through 2033, officials said Friday at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen. The move will make Moto3 a single-bike class, with Yamaha providing both engine and chassis to all teams as part of a new long-term project to develop the next generation of Grand Prix racing.
Under the agreement announced June 25, 2026, at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen, Yamaha will supply the complete motorcycle?including engine and chassis?to all teams competing in the Moto3 World Championship from the 2028 season through 2033, according to officials from MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group and Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. This marks a significant shift from the current multi-manufacturer format, with Yamaha becoming the exclusive supplier and effectively transforming Moto3 into a single-bike class, officials said.
The engine will deliver approximately 90 horsepower and the bike will have a minimum weight of 120 kilograms, exceeding the performance specifications of current Moto3 motorcycles.
The new Yamaha Moto3 machine will be a purpose-built racing prototype based on a highly modified version of Yamaha?s CP2 engine platform, which is used in the YZF-R7 family of production motorcycles. According to MotoGP and Yamaha representatives, the engine will deliver approximately 90 horsepower and the bike will have a minimum weight of 120 kilograms, exceeding the performance specifications of current Moto3 motorcycles. The engine core architecture is reported to be a 689 cc inline twin derived from the YZF-R7, but substantially redesigned for Grand Prix competition. Yamaha will also be responsible for designing the prototype chassis, confirming that the bike will not be a lightly modified production model.
The announcement follows a competitive tender process managed by Dorna Sports, the commercial rights holder for MotoGP, which attracted multiple bids before Yamaha was selected as the winner. MotoGP officials described the project as a ?next generation of Grand Prix racing? initiative aimed at both cost reduction and performance improvement. Carlos Ezpeleta, MotoGP?s chief sporting officer, stated that one of the primary motivations for the switch to a one-make Yamaha supply is to reduce team budgets and make the junior category more sustainable financially.
Cost analyses cited in internal briefings suggest the new Yamaha Moto3 bike will be priced around ?50,000 per complete unit, a significant reduction compared to current estimated costs of up to ?170,000 for existing machinery supplied by multiple manufacturers, including Honda and KTM. The single-supplier model is expected to lower development and parts supply expenses by standardizing equipment across the grid, according to MotoGP sources.
The transition to Yamaha machinery will require all Moto3 teams to adopt the new bikes for the 2028 season, effectively ending approximately 14 years of Honda and KTM dominance in the class, records show. Teams will need to manage the logistical and technical transition during the 2027?2028 off-season, adapting their operations to Yamaha?s platform. MotoGP officials noted that the move will shift competition focus from hardware diversity to rider skill, team setup, and development.
In addition to the Moto3 World Championship, the Yamaha supply agreement extends to the JuniorGP Moto3 category starting in 2029. This lower-spec version of the Yamaha prototype will be integrated into the MotoJunior structure, aligning the feeder series with the world championship?s machinery and supporting a unified rider development pathway. MotoGP and Yamaha officials emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader ecosystem designed to identify, prepare, and promote young riders toward higher classes such as Moto2 and MotoGP.
Yamaha and MotoGP have outlined a development and testing timeline that begins in 2026. Prototype testing is scheduled for late 2026, with the first on-track test expected in September or October, according to reports from Crash.net. The new bike?s public unveiling is planned for 2027, followed by a phased release of technical details and visuals ahead of full grid deployment in 2028.
The move to a single supplier represents a strategic realignment of the Moto3 category?s technical regulations and competitive structure. Officials from MotoGP described the change as inaugurating a ?new Moto3 era? with a standardized technical base across all teams. Existing manufacturers that currently supply Moto3 machinery are expected to withdraw from the class as suppliers once the Yamaha contract takes effect.
Discussions are ongoing with other regional championships to adopt Yamaha-based machinery, aiming to create a consistent platform for young riders worldwide. MotoGP officials said this alignment will help streamline talent identification and development, linking the junior categories to the premier Grand Prix classes through a common technical and competitive framework.
Danilo Petrucci completed a one-day test on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team machine recently at Donington Park in the UK. The test was organized to assess his physical condition and race readiness following a May crash at the Most Round, with BMW using the session to determine if he could return for the Prosecco DOC UK Round in July, officials said.
The test was a critical step in evaluating Petrucci?s ability to return to racing at the Prosecco DOC UK Round scheduled for July at Donington Park, officials said. BMW and Petrucci used the session to assess whether he could endure race distances and the physical demands of riding the BMW M 1000 RR without aggravating injuries sustained in his May crash at the Autodrom Most during the Czech Round of the World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK). The test marked one of Petrucci?s first full days back on a WorldSBK machine since the accident, which caused several fractures and forced him to miss subsequent rounds, according to BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team communications.
Petrucci completed the test alongside Honda HRC rider Jake Dixon, who was also recovering from injury and evaluating his readiness for the upcoming UK Round, WorldSBK officials reported.
The focus of the test was on race-preparation work rather than pure performance metrics, with BMW emphasizing that the session?s primary goal was to gauge Petrucci?s physical condition and race fitness. Final confirmation of his participation in the July event will depend on medical clearance and how his body responds in the days following the test, sources confirmed.
The Italian rider, who joined the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team for the 2026 season after moving from Barni Ducati, has expressed his intention to return to competition at Donington Park. Petrucci has a strong track record at the British circuit, having achieved podium finishes there in previous seasons, including 2023 when he and reigning champion Jonathan Rea made ?podium history,? according to WorldSBK records. His past performances at Donington have seen him consistently run at the front, making the UK Round a strategic target for his comeback.
BMW officials highlighted Petrucci?s role as a key element in the factory team?s development of the M 1000 RR and its competitiveness in the current season. The manufacturer is aiming to field both Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira together at Donington, with Oliveira also returning from injury, sources said. Restoring the full-strength factory lineup is seen as vital for BMW?s mid-season campaign.
Petrucci?s crash at Most was described by the team as ?another setback? in a series of challenges, underscoring the importance of a cautious and measured return. Following the accident, Petrucci underwent a period of rest and medical treatment before gradually resuming physical training to regain strength and mobility. BMW has maintained that his health and complete recovery remain the priority before any race comeback.
The Donington test provided BMW with valuable data and feedback from one of its most experienced riders, who brings extensive knowledge from both MotoGP and WorldSBK competition. Petrucci?s return would not only allow him to resume his championship points campaign but also enhance the competitiveness of the front group in WorldSBK, where he has previously contested podiums and battled leading riders.
The Prosecco DOC UK Round represents Petrucci?s first opportunity to race since the Czech Round incident, making the outcome of the Donington test a pivotal moment in his rehabilitation. BMW?s official communications have framed the test as a decisive factor in determining his readiness to rejoin the grid, with medical clearance contingent on his physical response in the coming weeks.
Petrucci?s 2026 season with BMW began with a November test prior to the current campaign, where he started adapting to the BMW M 1000 RR. His injury at Most interrupted the team?s early plans, forcing adjustments to rider line-ups and testing schedules. A successful return at Donington would reaffirm BMW?s ambitions for the season and solidify Petrucci?s role within the factory project.
The UK Round is also significant for fans and organizers, as Petrucci?s presence adds a high-profile storyline given his reputation and past success at the circuit. His known affinity for Donington and previous statements describing racing there as a ?dream? highlight the importance of this event in his recovery timeline.
Danilo Petrucci completed a one-day test on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team machine recently at Donington Park in the UK. The test was organized to assess his physical condition and race readiness following a May crash at the Most Round, with BMW using the session to determine if he could return for the Prosecco DOC UK Round in July, officials said.
The test was a critical step in evaluating Petrucci?s ability to return to racing at the Prosecco DOC UK Round scheduled for July at Donington Park, officials said. BMW and Petrucci used the session to assess whether he could endure race distances and the physical demands of riding the BMW M 1000 RR without aggravating injuries sustained in his May crash at the Autodrom Most during the Czech Round of the World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK). The test marked one of Petrucci?s first full days back on a WorldSBK machine since the accident, which caused several fractures and forced him to miss subsequent rounds, according to BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team communications.
Petrucci completed the test alongside Honda HRC rider Jake Dixon, who was also recovering from injury and evaluating his readiness for the upcoming UK Round, WorldSBK officials reported.
The focus of the test was on race-preparation work rather than pure performance metrics, with BMW emphasizing that the session?s primary goal was to gauge Petrucci?s physical condition and race fitness. Final confirmation of his participation in the July event will depend on medical clearance and how his body responds in the days following the test, sources confirmed.
The Italian rider, who joined the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team for the 2026 season after moving from Barni Ducati, has expressed his intention to return to competition at Donington Park. Petrucci has a strong track record at the British circuit, having achieved podium finishes there in previous seasons, including 2023 when he and reigning champion Jonathan Rea made ?podium history,? according to WorldSBK records. His past performances at Donington have seen him consistently run at the front, making the UK Round a strategic target for his comeback.
BMW officials highlighted Petrucci?s role as a key element in the factory team?s development of the M 1000 RR and its competitiveness in the current season. The manufacturer is aiming to field both Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira together at Donington, with Oliveira also returning from injury, sources said. Restoring the full-strength factory lineup is seen as vital for BMW?s mid-season campaign.
Petrucci?s crash at Most was described by the team as ?another setback? in a series of challenges, underscoring the importance of a cautious and measured return. Following the accident, Petrucci underwent a period of rest and medical treatment before gradually resuming physical training to regain strength and mobility. BMW has maintained that his health and complete recovery remain the priority before any race comeback.
The Donington test provided BMW with valuable data and feedback from one of its most experienced riders, who brings extensive knowledge from both MotoGP and WorldSBK competition. Petrucci?s return would not only allow him to resume his championship points campaign but also enhance the competitiveness of the front group in WorldSBK, where he has previously contested podiums and battled leading riders.
The Prosecco DOC UK Round represents Petrucci?s first opportunity to race since the Czech Round incident, making the outcome of the Donington test a pivotal moment in his rehabilitation. BMW?s official communications have framed the test as a decisive factor in determining his readiness to rejoin the grid, with medical clearance contingent on his physical response in the coming weeks.
Petrucci?s 2026 season with BMW began with a November test prior to the current campaign, where he started adapting to the BMW M 1000 RR. His injury at Most interrupted the team?s early plans, forcing adjustments to rider line-ups and testing schedules. A successful return at Donington would reaffirm BMW?s ambitions for the season and solidify Petrucci?s role within the factory project.
The UK Round is also significant for fans and organizers, as Petrucci?s presence adds a high-profile storyline given his reputation and past success at the circuit. His known affinity for Donington and previous statements describing racing there as a ?dream? highlight the importance of this event in his recovery timeline.