Motegi was overcast and cool for the 26th Grand Prix event to take place at the motorsports facility 150km north of Tokyo. Red Bull KTM lined up for the 24-lap race from 3rd (Pedro Acosta), 7th (Enea Bastianini), 17th (Brad Binder) and 19th (Maverick Viñales) slots on the grid and wary of the abrasiveness of the newly surfaced 14-corner layout that created challenges for tire durability during the Sprint on Saturday.

Brad sliced his way towards the periphery of the top ten and was able to gain 5 points for 11th place.

MotoGP now moves south and to the island of Lombok for the Grand Prix of Indonesia at Mandalika next weekend.

Brad Binder
11th and 13th in the championship:

“Much better than yesterday. The physio did a great job on me and I felt more human! We did the warm-up on the hard tire and straight out of the pits I thought ‘this thing is not bad…’. It was pretty good. The race was quite OK. We toned everything down to preserve the tire but, in the end, I think we could have done more distance on it. The best I could do today was 11th. Not a great Japan, and we were expecting better but I think I ruined it a bit when I threw myself down the road in Q1. It made the rest of the weekend more challenging. Onto the next one.”

Published by: https://bradbinder33.com/

The Red Bull KTM MotoGP contingent travelled to Japan and the first of five non-European Grands Prix still elated after their victory of the season in Austria two weeks ago. Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder were reenergized for the long-haul journey by personal best results this season at the Red Bull Ring and immediately got to work around the resurfaced and demanding course at Motegi. The combination of 14 tight turns and heavy braking and acceleration of the layout brought an acute test for the MotoGP field.

The Sprint rounded Motegi for 12 laps, and Brad fought outside of the top ten. His race was effectively over when he ran deep into the gravel on the outside of Turn 1 with four laps to go. Binder was also given a Long Lap penalty for track limits.

The 24-lap Grand Prix begins at the customary local hour of 14.00, which means a start of 07.00 for viewers on CEST.

Brad Binder
17th in qualification, 18th in the Sprint:

“The morning started quite well and the first run in Q1 was quite good but I bailed on the second; which wasn’t ideal because it was a flyer. I feel like I got hit by a bus right now…but I really want to thank the whole team – my boys and Pedro’s – who helped get me a bike ready for the Sprint. In the race I didn’t get a bad start but I was having a lot of issues sliding and chattering with the front into Turn 1. Definitely a day to forget and hopefully better tomorrow. I’m pretty sure I can do a much better job than today. The bike has potential here.”

Published by: https://bradbinder33.com/

South African rider celebrates world championship success after four-round international endurance campaign

South African motorcycle racer Steven Odendaal has helped the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team secure the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship, bringing home a major international title after a demanding four-round season.

Odendaal formed part of the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team alongside Markus Reiterberger and Michael van der Mark, with the trio securing the championship at the final round, the Bol d’Or at Circuit Paul Ricard in France. BMW finished the championship on 158 points, just four points ahead of YART Yamaha.

The 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship consisted of four races, taking the teams to the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans, the 8 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the Suzuka 8 Hours and the Bol d’Or.

For Odendaal, the championship was the culmination of a season that tested both rider and machine. Endurance racing requires three riders to share one motorcycle, with races lasting up to 24 hours and demanding careful preparation, teamwork and consistency throughout the season.

One of Odendaal’s standout performances came at the 8 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, where he was handed the BMW in mixed wet and dry conditions while the team was leading. He managed to extend the gap to the chasing rider before bringing the BMW home for the team’s victory.

The season had started under difficult circumstances for the South African. Odendaal suffered an S1 L5 herniated disc before the opening round and was initially unsure whether he would be able to compete. After intensive physiotherapy, he was able to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, although with limitations.

The championship also carried some unfinished business from 2025, when BMW’s title hopes ended with a mechanical failure late in the final race. As a result, Odendaal said he did not allow himself to believe the 2026 championship was secured until the final chequered flag.

“Only after the flag was set,” he said when asked when he began to believe the championship was a realistic possibility.

When the title was finally secured, the significance of the achievement was clear.

“It has been something I’ve dreamed of all my life and I felt a very big sense of accomplishment after the race,” Odendaal said.

The championship is also a proud moment for the Gauteng-born rider, who says representing South Africa internationally remains important to him.

“South Africa is my home and I couldn’t be more proud to represent SA. I feel honoured to do so,” he said.

Odendaal believes his years competing in South African motorsport provided an important foundation for his international career.

“South Africa taught me my foundation which prepared me mentally. As a South African we don’t give up easily and that’s a very good trait to have.”

The 2026 title adds to an already strong international career for Odendaal, who won the Spanish Superbike Championship in 2025. His focus now turns to defending the FIM Endurance World Championship with BMW Motorrad, while he hopes to challenge for both titles in 2027 if the calendars allow.

For the South African, the achievement can be summed up in four simple words:

“Hard work pays off.”

Odendaal’s 2026 season has placed another South African name on the world endurance racing stage, with the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team now holding the FIM Endurance World Championship title.

Motorsport South Africa (MSA) has confirmed a change to the South African team that will compete at the 2026 FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in Ernée, France, from 2 to 4 October.

Following an injury, Tristan Purdon has been replaced within the team and will unfortunately no longer represent South Africa at this year’s event.

Trey Cox has been selected to step into the MX Open position and will join Camden Mc Lellan and Slade Smith in the three-rider South African line-up.

The updated team is:

• MX2: Camden Mc Lellan
• MXGP: Slade Smith
• MX Open: Trey Cox

With the event just weeks away, the team will now continue its final preparations under Team Manager Lise Wosick before heading to France.

The FIM Motocross of Nations is one of the biggest events on the international motocross calendar, bringing together national teams from across the world to compete in the MXGP, MX2 and MX Open classes.

MSA Motocross Commission President Neville Townsend wished the revised team well ahead of their trip to France.

“We trust that the selected South African team will have a successful event and we hope that each rider has a positive experience from this wonderful opportunity enabled by Motorsport South Africa and their affiliation to FIM Africa and FIM. Be proudly South African and proud to be a part of the MSA MXoN SA team.”

MSA wishes Tristan Purdon well with his recovery and would like to thank him for his commitment to represent South Africa.

Trey Cox, Camden Mc Lellan and Slade Smith will now carry the South African flag at Ernée as Team South Africa takes its place alongside the world’s leading motocross nations from 2 to 4 October.