Brad Binder Set for New WorldSBK Challenge with BMW Motorrad in 2027

South Africa’s Brad Binder is set to embark on a new chapter in his international racing career in 2027, with the 30-year-old confirmed to join the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship.

The move will bring an end to Binder’s six-season spell in MotoGP and see the South African take on a completely new challenge aboard the BMW M 1000 RR as he joins BMW Motorrad Motorsport as a factory rider.

Binder arrives in WorldSBK with an impressive Grand Prix racing CV. His breakthrough came in 2016 when he secured the Moto3 World Championship, establishing himself as one of the leading young talents in motorcycle racing. He subsequently progressed through Moto2 before making the step up to MotoGP, where he established himself as a regular front-running competitor.

During his MotoGP career, Binder has secured two Grand Prix victories and a further nine podium finishes, becoming one of the leading representatives of South African motorcycle racing on the world stage.

His move to WorldSBK will also see Binder reunite with Miguel Oliveira. The pair have a long history together, having competed against each other and alongside one another throughout their careers in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP. Oliveira will also be part of BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s WorldSBK line-up, adding a familiar face as Binder begins his new adventure.

The switch to WorldSBK represents a significant change for Binder. Rather than competing against the world’s best prototype machinery in MotoGP, he will now face the established stars of production-based motorcycle racing aboard BMW’s M 1000 RR. The South African’s experience, race craft and ability to adapt will be important assets as he gets to grips with the bike and the different demands of the championship.

Binder’s arrival also signals a change for BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s WorldSBK project. Danilo Petrucci will leave the team at the conclusion of the 2026 season, although BMW Motorrad Motorsport is exploring possibilities to continue its collaboration with the Italian rider through other projects.

For Binder, however, the focus will be firmly on the future. After six seasons competing at the highest level of prototype motorcycle racing, the move to WorldSBK provides an opportunity to start a fresh chapter and pursue another world championship challenge.

The combination of Binder, Oliveira and the BMW M 1000 RR will make for an intriguing new chapter in the championship, while South African fans will have another rider to follow on the world stage as Binder begins his WorldSBK campaign in 2027.

After building a reputation as one of South Africa’s most successful motorcycle racers in the modern era, Brad Binder is now ready to take on a completely new challenge with BMW Motorrad.