Brad Binder, the South African MotoGP rider, is gearing up for what could be a pivotal season in 2024. With a secure long-term contract with KTM and a burning ambition to claim more victories, Binder is seen as a strong contender for the championship, provided certain conditions are met. His team chief, Andres Madrid, has been working closely with Binder to fine-tune both the rider’s skills and the bike’s performance to ensure they are in the best possible shape for the upcoming races.
Madrid’s approach to working with Binder at this stage of his career is focused on continuous improvement. The team has identified specific areas for development, including adding “checks” to their task list to monitor Binder’s progress and enhance his consistency on the track. Moreover, adjustments have been made to the bike to address issues that have previously hindered Binder, aiming to eliminate any discomfort he experienced in the past.
One of the key areas Madrid highlighted for improvement is Binder’s performance in qualifying sessions. Achieving better positions on Saturdays is crucial for securing advantageous starting spots in the races on Sundays. Madrid acknowledges that their main challenge is to enhance their performance during qualifying. “What we lack is to continue to improve on Saturdays,” Madrid admitted, emphasizing the importance of having a margin for extra performance when it’s most needed.
Their strategy involves leveraging Binder’s reserves after practice sessions, a tactic that has yielded their best qualifying results. However, finding additional performance gains on race weekends is challenging, especially after giving it their all during practice sessions. Madrid pointed out the difficulty of finding an extra seven-tenths of a second when the rider has already pushed to the limit.
Regarding the new KTM RC16, Madrid mentioned that there hasn’t been a need to adjust Binder’s riding style significantly. Nonetheless, he believes there’s still untapped potential in the bike that they’re working to exploit. “Even though we have developed a bike on which the rider feels comfortable, we need a bit more time to fully exploit its potential,” Madrid explained.
The upcoming season promises to be exciting for Binder and KTM. With no immediate concerns about his future and a dedicated team fine-tuning the details, Binder is well-positioned to become a serious championship contender. The goal is clear: to consistently battle for podiums and victories, potentially leading to a title challenge. Binder and Madrid have been working together since 2015, and their long-standing partnership, built on mutual respect and a shared vision for success, could be the key to unlocking Binder’s full potential in MotoGP 2024.