Brad Binder wraps up seventh in MotoGP 2026 opener at Thai Grand Prix

• Brad Binder wrapped up the opening round of the MotoGP 2026 season with a seventh-place finish at the Thailand Grand Prix.
• The Thai Grand Prix was held at Chang International Circuit from Friday, 27 February to Sunday, 1 March.
• The 30-year-old now sits sixth in the Riders’ Championship with 13 points as he looks to build momentum and bounce back from last season’s struggles.

Brad Binder wrapped up the opening round of the MotoGP 2026 season with a seventh-place finish at the Thailand Grand Prix on Sunday, held at a packed Chang International Circuit.

It marked a solid start to the campaign for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider, who carried momentum from Saturday’s Sprint, where he secured sixth place and pocketed four valuable points.

On Sunday, the South African had to battle through extreme heat and relentless pressure to claim nine essential championship points.

ALSO READ: Brad Binder elated after perfect start to MotoGP 2026 as he bags points at Thai Sprint

Brad Binder wraps up seventh in MotoGP 2026 opener

Binder rolled off the line from 11th on the grid but fought his way past Joan Mir and Franco Morbidelli to snatch ninth. A few laps later, he slipped back to 11th before regrouping and climbing back to 10th.

It was a gritty ride, and while luck was not entirely on his side, fortune did smile on him when both Marc and Alex Marquez hit trouble.

Marc suffered a tyre puncture while challenging for a podium at Turn 4, and Alex highsided at the same corner, thankfully walking away unscathed but their DNFs cleared a path for Binder to inherit seventh, turning a tough Sunday into a points-paying result.

“Happy on one hand but on the other I’d like more than a 7^th,” Binder reflected after the race.

We’re going step-by-step and moving forwards because it was good to be in Q2 directly on Friday and both races were pretty good. We’ve made a step with consistency. Today was a lot more challenging than the Sprint. The bike clearly has the potential, so we’ll keep working and try to catch up to Pedro.”

ALSO READ: Brad Binder eyes redemption as MotoGP 2026 season roars to life in Thailand

The 30-year-old now sits sixth in the Riders’ Championship with 13 points as he looks to build momentum and redeem himself after last season’s struggles.

His KTM teammate, Pedro Acosta, had a weekend to remember.

The Spaniard kicked things off by winning Saturday’s Sprint and followed it up with a stellar second-place finish in the main race, trailing only Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi, who bounced back impressively from a tough Saturday.

Round two heads to Brazil for the first time since 2004, with the Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in Goiania hosting the action from March 20-22.

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