Brad Binder is the latest MotoGP rider to find a new home in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) after securing a seat with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. While the duration of Binder’s contract is unknown, BMW says he will be with the factory WorldSBK team “from the 2027 season onwards,” suggesting a multi-year deal. The South African replaces Danilo Petrucci, who may be leaving WorldSBK entirely to race in MotoAmerica next year.
Binder’s move to WorldSBK, after fifteen seasons in the Grand Prix paddock (including seven in MotoGP), will see him re-unite with Miguel Oliveira, his team mate in Moto2 and MotoGP with KTM. Oliveira joined the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team this year.
Starting his grand prix career in 2012, Binder won the 2016 Moto3 World Championship, then finished second in the 2019 Moto2 World Championship before moving up to MotoGP the following year. In a MotoGP career spent entirely with the factory KTM team, Binder has won two races. His first win in 2020 was also the first for KTM in the premier class. MotoGP Rookie of the Year in 2020, Binder’s best championship result to date was fourth in 2023.
While his current contract prevents Binder from making a statement on his upcoming switch to WorldSBK, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team Principal, Shaun Muir, had the following to say:
“We are delighted to welcome Brad Binder to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team for 2027. Brad has proven himself at the highest level of Grand Prix racing, and we strongly believe he has the character, determination and ability to make a real impact in WorldSBK.
“He has a clear ambition to fight at the front and we are confident that, once he gets to grips with the BMW M 1000 RR, he will be a very strong addition to the team. It is also great to see Brad reunited with Miguel, who he knows extremely well, and we believe they will make a strong pairing for the team.”
Binder will make his race debut on the BMW M 1000 RR at Phillip Island for WorldSBK’s 2027 season opener on 19-21 February.
