KTM’s Brad Binder admits the team’s engine troubles this season have left him with a precarious allocation for the remaining MotoGP races. After losing three engines—more than any other KTM rider—Binder now has just one fresh unit left before the 19th round of the season, with only eight engines permitted under current rules.
The early-season technical issues forced KTM to reduce rev limits and seek engine unsealing from the manufacturers’ association, which granted a fix. However, the damage was done: Binder’s remaining engines have already seen heavy use, with one unit deployed at 11 events and others at four and three events respectively.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Aragon race, Binder acknowledged the challenge ahead. “I’ve lost so many,” he said, stressing the need to manage his remaining engines carefully to avoid penalties or pitlane starts. While KTM’s fix is in place, Binder remains cautious, noting no guarantees given the early-season losses.
The penalties for exceeding engine allocations are steep, ranging from pitlane starts to 25-second time penalties in flag-to-flag races, adding pressure to Binder’s final stretch of the season.
