Brad Binder's hopes of securing a 2027 MotoGP seat with Tech3 appear to be over after team principal Guenther Steiner confirmed the South African is not part of the French outfit's plans for the start of MotoGP's new 850cc era.
Binder is already set to leave the Red Bull KTM factory team at the end of the 2026 season after KTM announced Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio as its factory riders for 2027. That left Tech3 as a possible destination, especially given Binder's long history with the Austrian manufacturer.
However, Steiner believes the satellite team needs a clean break rather than carrying over riders with long KTM ties.
"Sometimes you need to start fresh," Steiner said during the German Grand Prix weekend.
He explained that Tech3 wants to build a positive environment from the ground up instead of bringing what he described as "old baggage" into the team's new project. According to Steiner, riders who have spent many years within the KTM system naturally compare the future with the past, something he wants to avoid as Tech3 enters a new chapter.
Source: MotoGP News
The decision comes despite Binder's impressive history with KTM.
The South African joined the manufacturer's programme in Moto3 in 2015, won the Moto3 world championship a year later and has remained with KTM throughout his Grand Prix career. He also became the rider who delivered KTM's first MotoGP victory in 2020 and has been one of the factory's most loyal competitors.
Instead of signing an established KTM rider, Steiner is targeting a combination of youth and experience for Tech3's 2027 line-up.
Honda rider Luca Marini has emerged as a leading candidate to fill the experienced role, while Moto2 championship leader Manuel Gonzalez and Australian rookie Senna Agius are among the young riders under consideration. Steiner has spoken positively about Marini's experience and believes it could help accelerate the team's development under the new regulations.
Tech3 has yet to announce either of its riders for 2027, but Steiner indicated decisions will be made soon as preparations continue for MotoGP's regulation changes.
For Binder, the latest development leaves him with fewer options as he searches for a ride beyond 2026. While his future remains uncertain, Tech3 has made it clear that its priority is building a new identity rather than extending KTM's past into the next era of MotoGP.
