MotoGP fans love a good rivalry, but inside the KTM camp, things are getting even more interesting.
As the team gears up for the 2025 season, Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta have emerged as two riders with drastically different approaches—especially when it comes to staying on two wheels.
BINDER’S CONSISTENCY VS. ACOSTA’S RISK-TAKING
The 2024 season painted a clear picture: Acosta was the most crash-prone rider on the MotoGP grid, hitting the deck 22 times in 19 races, nearly double the crashes of his more experienced teammate Binder, who suffered 12 falls in the same period.
Binder’s crash rate sat at 0.63 per race, while Acosta averaged a staggering 1.16 crashes per race—meaning the young Spaniard was likely to crash at least once every weekend.
Acosta’s worst outing came at the Japanese GP, where he crashed three times, while Binder’s highest tally came at the British GP, with two crashes.
ARE THE STATS MISLEADING?
On paper, Binder looks like the safer, more composed rider, while Acosta seems reckless. But is that really the case?
Binder, now a seasoned MotoGP veteran, has built a reputation for pushing the KTM to its absolute limit while still maintaining control.
His ability to find consistency in a bike that has often lagged behind the competition is a testament to his skill.
Acosta, on the other hand, is still learning. The 2023 Moto2 champion is fearless, but sometimes that aggressive approach backfires.
His high-risk, high-reward mentality is what makes him such an exciting rider—but also why he found himself in the gravel so often last year.
WHAT KTM NEEDS TO FIX
KTM is still chasing Ducati, and if they want to close the gap, they need a bike that doesn’t fight its riders as much.
Both Binder and Acosta have spoken about how the KTM still feels too aggressive, particularly in braking and corner entry.
Binder himself has admitted that there’s a lot to learn from his younger teammate.
“Pedro enters very early into the corners, it’s as if each corner is tighter, he does fewer meters, and that works very well with our bike. I want to learn from him,” Binder said in a recent interview.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2025
KTM has a massive opportunity this season. They have two of the most talented riders in MotoGP, each bringing a unique approach to racing.
If they can refine the RC16’s handling and give both Binder and Acosta a more stable machine, they could seriously challenge for podiums—and maybe even race wins.
But one thing’s for sure: Binder is still the safer bet, while Acosta remains the wildcard. Who would you back to lead KTM to glory in 2025?
