KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beirer confirmed to MotoGP™ pitlane reporter Simon Crafar that the Austrian factory are currently in talks with Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brad Binder about promoting the South African up to the MotoGP™ class in 2020.
It was recently reported in the German press that Binder will make the move to the premier class next year, however, Beirer denied a deal was already in place by saying “there is no signed contract”. However, the pair continue to have talks over the possibility of Binder becoming the first South African MotoGP™ rider.
Despite a difficult start to the season for all KTM Moto2™ riders, Binder continues to lead the way for the factory after a first podium of the year last time out in Assen, which promoted him to eighth in the World Championship.
Add that to his Moto3™ World Championship in 2016 and four Moto2™ victories en route to third place in the World Championship in 2018, the 23-year-old has shown he has premier class pedigree.
“I can comment that the German-speaking website was pretty fast,” said Beirer while talking to MotoGP™ pitlane reporter Simon Crafar during FP2 at the Sachsenring. “But we are thinking that way and we used an option with Brad to make sure he’ll be with us for next year. So, that option was used already some time ago but that was purely for Moto2.
“If you discuss with the rider one step higher, he’s interested and we are working on that and talking about that, but there is no signed contract and that’s why we can’t confirm or talk about this situation.”
Currently Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pol Espargaro and Johann Zarco, plus following a one-year extension earlier in the year, Red Bull KTM Tech 3’s Miguel Oliveira all have 2020 deals secured. Stay tuned to motogp.com for all the very latest news as the 2020 MotoGP™ grid begins to take shape.