Binder hopes KTM tyre predictions hold up for Brazilian GP return
Brad Binder is hoping KTM’s tyre department got their predictions right for the Brazilian Grand Prix, following concerns over Goiania’s track conditions.
KTM engineers have raised concerns about the high abrasion expected at Goiania, with long corners and a rough surface likely to increase tyre stress. To address this, Michelin has made an additional set of soft compounds available for both the front and rear.
Goiania will be the 24th different circuit Binder has raced at in his MotoGP career. A podium finish would mark the tenth different venue where he’s stood on the rostrum.
Binder hasn’t been back on the podium since his second-place finish at the 2024 season opener in Qatar. He started this season with a seventh-place finish in Thailand and followed it up with a sixth-place finish as teammate Pedro Acosta won the Buriram Sprint.
KTM warns Binder to brace for tyre wear in Brazil
KTM have traded some straight-line speed this year to build a more well-rounded RC16, though it wasn’t solely about fixing tyre wear issues. Binder struggled with rear grip throughout 2025, and the team expects the trend to continue in Brazil.
READ MORE: All you need to know about the Brazilian Grand Prix, including Goiania stats
Early simulations, based on limited data, indicate that Goiania is tough on tyres – both because of its layout and the surface. Binder is hoping those projections prove accurate enough for KTM to stay ahead of any major problems.
Binder explained:
“From my understanding, this place is supposed to be really hard on the rear tyre, at least that’s what the simulation expects, or our people that work inside the tyre department expect – a high-wearing track
“So, we need to wait and see, because you never know until you spin laps. Fingers crossed it works out well!”
The track’s fast right-handers will test front tyre durability too. Riders will hit big lean angles while braking into those corners, which is likely going to wear down the right side of their tyres quickly.
KTM have reason to keep an eye on how their bike handles Michelin’s rubber when their riders fire out of turns still leaned over. To help manage wear across teams, Michelin brought along their hard carcass rear for Brazil – a move typically reserved for hotter circuits like Thailand and Indonesia.
The softs and mediums are picked from what they use in Austria; both built with compounds aimed at keeping heat down when there’s lots of wheelspin expected over a race distance.
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