BINDER BRACES FOR WILD WEATHER AT PHILLIP ISLAND
22 Oct 2026·
Brad Binder is looking forward to returning to Phillip Island, but the weather forecast has him preparing for a difficult weekend. The KTM rider joked that if conditions deteriorate by Sunday, “we might be better off using a jet ski.”
The South African has had mixed fortunes at the Australian circuit. In 2025, his Sprint ended after just one lap when he crashed, but he bounced back on Sunday as KTM placed all four of its RC16s in the top 10. Binder finished eighth.
Phillip Island is a favourite for the 17-time Grand Prix winner, who has raced there since 2011. MotoGP is scheduled to visit the circuit for the final time in 2026 before moving to Adelaide in November 2027. Binder, meanwhile, is set to leave KTM and join BMW as a factory rider. The Superbike World Championship is also due to make its last Phillip Island appearance in 2027, with The Bend, south of Adelaide, set to take over.
Binder said the forecast suggested the weekend could begin well before turning treacherous. “I’m really looking forward to getting out on track — it’s my favourite circuit on the calendar — even if it currently looks like, after a very good first day, we might be better off using a jet ski on Sunday.”
He warned that wind could pose a greater challenge than rain. “You can never know exactly what will happen here. With rain, it all depends on how much falls. But the wind is the more critical factor. It can build and then blow across the track in unpredictable gusts. On a MotoGP bike, that’s especially challenging: there’s simply too little space and time to correct things.”
Changing track temperatures and uneven rainfall could also make conditions demanding for riders and machinery. In heavy rain, Binder said, keeping the brakes warm becomes difficult, while the right side of the tyres can cool down and become hazardous. Despite the risks, he was optimistic about KTM’s prospects: “It looks like we have a very exciting Sunday ahead. I’m happy to take on the challenge, and I believe things can go really well for us even then.”