Brad ✱Binder has praised KTM's decision to sign Danilo Petrucci for the 2021 MotoGP season, following the loss of Pol Espargaro.

Binder will spend his rookie MotoGP campaign alongside Esparg🥂a🤪ro, who has been KTM's top rider since its premier-class debut in 2018.

But the Spaniard wജill then le🦩ave at the end of this season, in a to-be-confirmed move to Repsol Honda.

Joining the KTM ranks in 2021, but not at the factory team💮, will be factory Ducati race winner Petrucci.

The Italian was initially 💟expected to be a direct replacement for Espargaro at the Factory team, but will instead join Tech3 KTM as team-mate to Iker Lecuona, with Miguel Olive🐠ira moving alongside Binder.

KT🎀M insists all four of its riders w🐼ill have equal machinery.

"A guy coming in like Danilo is great in my opinion, because he's got a lot of experience," Binder said. "He's been on the factory Ducati the last couple of ye𒉰ars and I mean the guy has been on the podium a good few times and is a race winner."

While Petrucci w🍨ill be new to the KTM, Binder highlighte🐬d the progress made since Dani Pedrosa - who spent his entire grand prix career with Honda - joined the project as a test rider.

"I🐬 think [Petrucci's] input is going to be amazing, but at the same time we ꧃also have Dani Pedrosa, everything that he brings pretty much seems to work better and be an improvement for all us," Binder said.

"So 𝔉I t𝕴hink KTM's working in a great direction and I think the future is going to be bright."

KTM has taken a best dry race finish of sixth in MotoGP, plus a✨ wet podium at Valencia in 2018, both with Espargaro.