The Brad Binder WorldSBK move is confirmed. BMW announced on Wednesday that the South African will leave KTM’s factory MotoGP team at the end of 2026 to join its works World Superbike squad, lining up alongside Miguel Oliveira.
What the Brad Binder WorldSBK deal means for BMW
The signing announced by BMW Motorrad Motorsport reunites the pair who rode together at KTM when the Austrian manufacturer last won a MotoGP race in 2022. Binder takes the seat vacated by Danilo Petrucci, who confirmed last week at Magny-Cours that he would not stay with the Bavarian marque for 2027.
“We are delighted to welcome Brad to the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family,” said Sven Blusch, head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport. “What particularly impresses us is his absolute determination to start a new chapter in WorldSBK. His goal is clear: he wants to fight for the world championship title.”
Blusch conceded Binder “will need to get accustomed to the BMW M1000 RR and to a new world championship”, but said the reunion with Oliveira carried “great potential” because the two former team-mates “complement each other perfectly, both in terms of their personalities and their riding styles”.
Binder leaves grand prix racing after seven seasons with KTM’s factory MotoGP effort. He won twice in his first two premier-class campaigns and added a sprint victory at Jerez in 2023, but has not stood on a podium since the 2024 season opener in Qatar. His exit clears the works KTM ride for Fabio Di Giannantonio, who signed for 2027 from VR46.
It is the second MotoGP-to-WorldSBK switch in a week, after Jack Miller’s move to Yamaha’s factory team. The paddock reconvenes at Misano this weekend for the San Marino Grand Prix, with Jorge Martín leading the standings for Aprilia.
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