Метка: Jack Miller

Miller joins Pramac Yamaha to complete 2025 MotoGP grid


Yamaha has announced that Jack Miller will join its new Pramac satellite team in MotoGP next year, partnering Miguel Oliveira in an all-new line-up.

As had been widely expected for many weeks, Miller will find a new home at the Yamaha-backed Pramac squad in 2025 on a one-year deal.

The 29-year-old was previously at risk of dropping off the MotoGP grid altogether after losing his seat at KTM after two seasons, having admitted his ‘phone wasn’t ringing during the summer break’.

Yamaha was initially aiming to place a rookie from Moto2 at Pramac, but a meeting with Miller’s manager Aki Ajo and MotoGP’s commercial boss Dan Rossomondo swung things in the Australian’s favour.

He will join Pramac with four wins and a total of 23 podiums on his CV in a career that has seen him race on Honda, Ducati and KTM machinery in the premier class.

With Miller now officially confirmed at Pramac, all 22 riders for the 2025 MotoGP season have now been announced.

Jack Miller, Pramac Racing

Jack Miller, Pramac Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“We are happy to announce that Jack is joining Prima Pramac Racing’s line-up, and we warmly welcome him to the Yamaha MotoGP group,” said Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis.

“With 10 years of experience in the MotoGP class with three different manufacturers, Jack will be a valuable asset for Yamaha. His speed, knowledge, work ethic, and team spirit will be invaluable to our project as we plan to improve the performance of the M1 in 2025 and beyond.

“Yamaha will be supporting him in every way they can.”

Both Oliveira and Miller have been recruited directly by Yamaha, which is offering full factory equipment and technical support to Pramac.

The Italian squad, which is ending a two-decade long association with Ducati to join forces with Yamaha, is seen by Jarvis as an important step in bringing the Iwata-based brand back to the front in MotoGP.

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Miller was not retained by KTM as part of a rider shuffle that included Pedro Acosta earning a promotion to the factory team and Tech3 bringing in Maverick Vinales from Aprilia and Enea Bastianini from Ducati.

Augusto Fernandez, now in his sophomore season, has also been dropped by the Austrian marque and is expected to become a test rider for Honda in 2025.



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“Not fair” that Miller and Morbidelli will stay in MotoGP next year


Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro says it’s «not fair» that Jack Miller and Franco Morbidelli will remain on next year’s MotoGP grid despite their current form, when teams could hire young riders in their place.

Espargaro, a veteran of 243 starts, believes MotoGP teams should be giving opportunities to those coming through the ranks instead of signing underperforming riders in the premier class.

His comments follow speculation that Miller has secured a reprieve at Yamaha’s new satellite team Pramac next year after being dropped by KTM in the wake of his poor results with the Austrian marque this year.

Miller will effectively take the place of Morbidelli, who is expected to find a berth at his mentor Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team next year despite his own lacklustre results in 2024.

The Italian is going through a torrid campaign on what is the best bike on the grid after missing all of pre-season testing due to a training injury, but will continue in MotoGP next year thanks to his long association with seven-time MotoGP world champion Rossi.

Espargaro made a rare comment about fellow riders on the eve of this weekend’s Austrian GP, saying it’s sad that a lot of talented youngsters in Moto2 will miss out on a MotoGP seat next year because teams are opting for the likes of Miller and Morbidelli and not giving a newcomers a shot.

Franco Morbidelli, Pramac Racing

Franco Morbidelli, Pramac Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“I’m not going to comment on that [Miller] because I would get into trouble,” he said initially, before adding: “If I tell you what I think about that and someone else who will end up in VR46, it will be wrong.

“I get on well with Jack, we are neighbours and he has just become a father. I know he likes motorbikes much more than me. I’m very happy that he can still be here. But there’s a much worse case.

“The case of Morbidelli is worse than that of Miller. There is nothing wrong with Morbidelli staying in MotoGP, but when you have a winning bike for so many years in a row, and your team-mates [Fabio Quartararo] beat you every time, in every race and every time trial, it doesn’t seem fair to me that you don’t give the opportunity to the young riders.

“When you have had many winning bikes and you don’t show anything, and they keep giving you options, then you see an Alonso Lopez [in Moto2] who is biting his lips to go up.”

Espargaro will call time on his glittering career as a racer at the end of this season, having already propelled Aprilia from a distant backmarker to a multiple race-winning force in MotoGP.

He will take up the role of test rider at Honda next year, freeing up a seat within the Aprilia fold as a result and leading to a domino effect elsewhere.

Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing Team

Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Espargaro said one of the reasons he decided to quit MotoGP was to open up space for young riders who are still in Moto2 and have a lot of potential to succeed at the top level in the coming years.

“That’s why I’ve decided to take a step aside next year, because I have the feeling that I’m not at 1000% like these guys can be,” he said. “I don’t have that desire to race anymore, and it doesn’t seem fair to me to stay here.”

One team that has opted for youth over experience is Aprilia’s own satellite squad Trackhouse, which has signed Moto2 frontrunner Ai Ogura to partner incumbent Raul Fernandez.

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Espargaro hailed team boss Davide Brivio for showing faith in Ogura, who currently sits second in the standings behind team-mate Sergio Garcia, instead of looking elsewhere on the current grid.

“For a team manager like Brivio to take a gamble with someone like Ogura is ‘chapeau’ [well done],” he said.

“I think Ogura is very good; he is aggressive, he works on his own. I think it’s a great signing, it’s the best thing Trackhouse could do.”



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Why the choice of Pramac riders will test Yamaha’s MotoGP resolve


Whether officially announced or not, virtually all the spots on the 2025 MotoGP grid have been finalised. Only one free slot is truly up for grabs at Pramac, where Miguel Oliveira is all but certain to join from Trackhouse, as Yamaha regains its longed-for satellite squad.

The Japanese company until not so many years ago dominated the premier class with champions such as Valentino Rossi (2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009) and Jorge Lorenzo (2010, 2012 and 2015). Yamaha’s most recent title came just three years ago (2021) with Fabio Quartararo, but it has lost its competitive edge over the European constructors, especially when compared to Ducati.

The turning point in the widening of that gap came precisely when Yamaha lost its satellite team at the end of 2022 due to disagreements with Razlan Razali, the squad’s owner. Yamaha executives failed to appreciate the significance of that loss which was accentuated as Rossi, no longer part of its riding stable in 2022, had immediately teamed up with Ducati for his VR46 team and turned his back on the constructor for which he remains a brand ambassador.

This led to Ducati having eight bikes on the grid in 2023 and 2024, further accelerating the development of its bike to a point where it has become unattainable for the rest. Just look at the top 10 at the British Grand Prix, where eight Desmosedici finished in a top 10 which included no Japanese bikes.

Once the serious mistake was detected, Lin Jarvis, Yamaha’s director, set to work to recover those two extra bikes as soon as possible. In 2023 he tried to convince Rossi and his VR46 operation to leave Bologna and take the step that everyone thought was natural. The answer then was the same as the one given a year later: no.

«VR46 is our plan A, our first choice and what we want to do. Plan B is Pramac. After that, there are no other alternatives,» a Yamaha executive explained to Motorsport.com at Le Mans before a deal with Pramac was finalised at the end of June.

Oliveira is widely expected to join Pramac from Trackhouse, but the identity of his soon-to-be team-mate is less clear cut

Oliveira is widely expected to join Pramac from Trackhouse, but the identity of his soon-to-be team-mate is less clear cut

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Yamaha has done its homework. Jarvis managed to convince Quartararo to renew his contract and then met one of the first conditions set by the Frenchman to stay by expanding to four M1s for 2025. Last week, the renewal of Alex Rins was announced, closing the factory team’s portfolio. With that achieved, the company’s leaders are now focusing on putting together the satellite structure.

«It’s our partner team; Yamaha provides the bikes, and the riders we’re going to decide on, but obviously we’re going to agree it with the interests and concerns of Pramac,» another senior executive from the Japanese company told Motorsport.com at Silverstone. This authoritative voice was then asked directly who decides on the identity of the Pramac riders.

«The first scenario was to bring in an experienced rider [Oliveira] and a young rider, a rookie,» replied the Yamaha source. In this approach, the first candidate to partner the Portuguese rider was Sergio Garcia, and the second, Alonso Lopez, both currently in Moto2.

Motorsport.com understands that Miller is once again a real option to race an M1

«The second possibility was to sign two experienced riders, with knowledge of the category, to help develop the bike more quickly. After talking to Pramac, we evaluated the possibility of a young Italian rider, as a matter of sensitivity with the sponsors,» continued the source, referring to the wishes of Prima, the sponsor of Paolo Campionoti’s team.

In this context, the name Tony Arbolino has gained momentum, with Quartararo lauding the Moto2 race winner as a good fit. But an important question remains. How determined is Yamaha to put the development of the M1 at the centre?

This weekend at Silverstone, Jack Miller’s name was once again on the table. The Australian claimed on Thursday in the run-up to the grand prix that his phone had not rung, as he seeks a new team after KTM promoted Pedro Acosta from Tech3, while signing Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini to the satellite arm.

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«I don’t have any offers,» Miller said, setting off alarm bells in a championship that has always encouraged a diversity of nationalities, but without leaving out the best riders, regardless of their country of origin. «If there are a lot of Italian and Spanish riders on the grid, it is because they are fast,» has always been Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta’s defence.

Miller could find an unexpected reprieve at Pramac next year

Miller could find an unexpected reprieve at Pramac next year

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Miller’s cry for help reached the right ears and, within 48 hours, the Townsville rider who represented Pramac from 2018 to 2020 was seen in its hospitality suite with his manager, Aki Ajo, and a member of the championship’s commercial department. Nothing has emerged from the meeting, but Motorsport.com understands that Miller is once again a real option to race an M1.

That would leave Pramac with two riders with identical profiles: Oliveira and Miller are the same age (29) and experience (14 years in the world championship), have won a fairly even number of races (four for Miller and five for Oliveira), have been through factory and satellite teams, know the business and are commercially attractive as the only representatives of their respective countries in MotoGP.

If Miller is deemed to be the solution for decision-makers at Iwata or Gerno di Lesmo, where all Yamaha’s operations are now based, it makes perfect sense to close the deal. But if Yamaha comes to Miller’s rescue only because of external pressure, it will cast serious doubts on the project.

Keeping a rider based on his passport would lead to the conclusion that the new world championship ownership coming in at the end of the year is more about diversity than speed. But, above all, it would give a true measure of Yamaha’s determination to put the development and growth of the bike at the centre of its priorities.

Miller would represent a more experienced candidate for Pramac than Arbolino

Miller would represent a more experienced candidate for Pramac than Arbolino

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images



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Miller admits «my phone isn’t ringing» as 2025 MotoGP options dwindle


KTM rider Jack Miller has admitted that his «phone isn’t ringing» and he is running out of options to extend his stay in MotoGP next year.

A regular in the MotoGP paddock since 2015, Miller has been looking for a seat after being dropped by his current employer KTM in favour of rookie sensation Pedro Acosta.

However, with limited seats left on next year’s grid, and a poorly-timed drop in form on the stagnant RC16, the Australian is finding it increasingly difficult to land a ride for 2025.

Motorsport.com reported this week that the Australian has been contacted by two factories, including Ducati, for a move to the World Superbike Championship.

But speaking on MotoGP’s return from the summer break at Silverstone, the 29-year-old stated that he didn’t have any offers to race in either MotoGP and WSBK at present.

«It’s all rumours because frankly at the moment I have got nothing. Not one single contract,» he said.

Miller’s innate knowledge of developing bikes, particularly at Ducati and KTM, could be an asset for Japanese manufacturers Honda and Yamaha, which are struggling to catch up with their European rivals despite the advantages offered to them under MotoGP’s new concession system.

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Miller expressed his enthusiasm to take on such a role in MotoGP, but reiterated that he didn’t have any firm offers at present — before pointing to his personality being a potential hindrance in any career move.

He said: «Definitely. All of that interests me. That’s why I said, until things are signed, sealed and delivered I’m not giving up on this.

«Can honestly say my phone ain’t ringing. I’m trying to push it from every angle I can possibly do.

«But sometimes you say things to piss people off, do whatever. It is what it is. It’s why I’ve lived my [life like that], [it’s] been my whole career. I’m the character I am. This is what it is.

«I’m trying to do what I can do on track, because at the end of the day that’s what talks the most.»

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It is becoming ever so common for riders to move to WSBK after the end of their MotoGP careers, with the production-based series offering a competitive environment for them to put their skills to the test.

Miller said he is open to a move to WSBK, where he could potentially replace two-time champion Alvaro Bautista at Ducati, but doesn’t want to give up on MotoGP until the door is firmly shut.

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Asked if he was interested in racing in WSBK, he said: «Of course, the level over there is fantastic. I think the championship is cool. At the end of the day, I love racing and three races in a weekend is pretty cool. Never say never.

«I definitely feel like I have more to give here [in MotoGP] but we will wait and see. I’m holding out hope until all doors are closed, but honestly speaking it’s not looking good. So we will try our best to do something in the second half of the season.

«It’s been a good summer break but also rough. There is a lot of things to take into account.

«Obviously all good things come to an end, but things ending when it’s not on your terms — which it rarely ever is in a racing situation — but especially with what I have given in the sport and what I feel like I have to give to the sport, it’s a tough one.

«But like I said, it’s never over until over. All we can do is try and put some decent results on the board, and hopefully my phone will [ring] at some point.»

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What next for MotoGP stalwart Jack Miller?


Jack Miller is at a crossroads in his career as MotoGP returns from the summer break this week. The Australian heads to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone without knowing where — and if — he will be racing next year.

Until a few months ago, Miller was quietly certain of continuing his relationship with KTM, revealing at Assen that he had been verbally assured of a place at the Austrian marque next season. This would have involved him moving to the current GasGas-branded Tech3 squad just as it transforms into a secondary factory team in 2025.

However, as he claimed, KTM eventually went back on its promise of extending the contract, dropping him — as well as Augusto Fernandez — in favour of an all-new line-up at Tech3 comprising Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini. With limited options elsewhere on the grid, it now looks increasingly likely that Miller’s career in the premier class could end after 10 years.

In many ways, it would be sad if the outspoken Australian does end up departing the MotoGP paddock just before he turns 30 in January next year. Never one to mince his words, Miller can always be relied on to pour his heart out when talking about other riders, stewards or MotoGP in general.

In a series that is becoming increasingly sedate due to the PR machines employed by manufacturers, Miller’s presence provides a breath of fresh air in MotoGP and keeps things real. It’s also one of the reasons why he has such a strong fan following in MotoGP, both in his homeland and in other parts of the world.

On the other hand, there is no denying that Miller has grossly underperformed at the factory KTM this season, even after taking into account the issues he has had with chatter on the RC16. In the nine rounds held so far, Miller has scored just 35 points and broken inside the top 10 just once on a Sunday. That puts him 16th in the championship, only one place ahead of 2022 Moto2 champion Fernandez on the GasGas-branded RC16.

Contrast that to stablemates Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder, who both have more than 100 points on their respective tallies, it’s easy to see why KTM wanted to drop the weak links in its line-up.

Fifth in Portugal remains comfortably Miller's best result of the year, having been overshadowed by team-mate Binder and Tech3's Acosta

Fifth in Portugal remains comfortably Miller’s best result of the year, having been overshadowed by team-mate Binder and Tech3’s Acosta

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

The Munderfing-based marque, of course, is going through an overhaul of its operations in MotoGP, with the move to turn Tech3 into an extension of the factory team a part of its grand plans. Having two new riders from the factory Ducati and Aprilia teams could be a massive boost for KTM, especially at a time when the development of its own bike has stalled.

Vinales is a proven quantity in MotoGP while Bastianini has a lot of unrealised potential if his junior racing results and his 2022 campaign with Gresini are anything to go by. Together, they bring fresh blood into KTM just as it embarks on a major change in its operations. Miller, on the other hand, is well…Miller. Extremely fast on his day but frustratingly off-colour otherwise, his career so far has been blighted by inconsistency.

He definitely went through some high points in his career in the premier class, results that showed just how people sometimes underestimate his talent. His maiden victory aboard a Marc VDS-entered Honda in 2016 is often mentioned to show what he is capable of achieving, but his wet-weather masterclass at Le Mans in 2021 and his absolute domination of Motegi in 2022 also shouldn’t be overlooked in any conversation about his MotoGP future.

There is no denying that he would be a great asset for a satellite team and the factory it is associated with. With his immense experience from Honda, Ducati and KTM days, Miller can provide invaluable insights

But equally, his critics would point out that he has been racing factory equipment for a while now and yet he has only four victories on his tally. In fact, Miller hasn’t stood on the podium since his fourth race with KTM at Jerez more than 12 months ago. It’s probably why some people think he has already overstayed his welcome in MotoGP and should be making way for the newer generation of riders on the grid.

To be fair to Miller, he wasn’t exactly shabby during his time at the factory Ducati team in 2021-22 prior to joining KTM. On what would turn out to be one of the most coveted bikes on the grid, he did more than enough to complement Francesco Bagnaia on the other side of the garage and help Ducati secure back-to-back teams’ and manufacturers’ titles. But again, his individual performances left a lot to be desired, which is probably why his future is under threat now.

Does Miller deserve a place in MotoGP? Well, there is no denying that he would be a great asset for a satellite team and the factory it is associated with. With his immense experience from Honda, Ducati and KTM days, Miller can provide invaluable insights as the current era of MotoGP nears conclusion and new rules come into force in 2027.

But sadly, there is nothing to suggest that he still has more pace to unlock in himself and that he would be a faster rider in two years than he is now. There is also no solution to the consistency issue that has been the Achilles heel of his stint in the premier class.

Inconsistency has been a regular and undesired aspect of Miller's MotoGP career

Inconsistency has been a regular and undesired aspect of Miller’s MotoGP career

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

So, what should Miller do next? Other than a move to Pramac on Yamaha machinery, there aren’t really any available seats on the 2025 MotoGP grid. Pramac will receive identical bikes to the factory Yamaha team next year and, with the M1 going through a major overhaul, it could be an ideal destination for Miller as he enters his 30s. But he isn’t on the radar of Pramac. It seems set to recruit Miguel Oliveira from Trackhouse, so even that door appears to be shut for him.

One possibility for Miller is to become a test rider, but it’s something that he has simply not shown any interest in. While he wants to play an active role in the development of a bike, which was also one of his motivations to join forces with KTM in the first place, any testing duties for him must come alongside a full season of racing.

While the priority for Miller is to still race in MotoGP next year, it would be prudent of him to accept the reality and look elsewhere. He has offers from at least two factory teams, including Ducati, to join the World Superbike Championship next year, which shows he is still in demand in the racing circles.

While it’s only natural for grand prix riders to look down on the production-based category, it offers an extremely competitive field and the bikes are only a few seconds slower than those raced in MotoGP. If Miller wants to continue his career in racing, WSBK offers a viable option that he shouldn’t refuse.

Of course, the salary on offer will be a lot lower than what he currently receives at KTM in MotoGP. But Miller is the first to admit that money is not a factor in any decision-making, having already earned and saved enough during his decade in the premier class.

But before that, he needs to decide how he wants the next phase of his life to be like. Having become a father last year, family responsibilities will be a major consideration in charting his next move.

The WSBK calendar is less punishing on the riders, and features fewer stops than MotoGP — particularly outside of Europe. That would already offer a better work/life balance than his current role. And if spending more time with his family in Australia is indeed desired, retiring from active competition could also be an option.

Miller has been linked with a move to WSBK, as his options to remain on the MotoGP grid dwindle following Tech3 snub

Miller has been linked with a move to WSBK, as his options to remain on the MotoGP grid dwindle following Tech3 snub

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

As for what will happen to KTM when Miller leaves? Well, the Austrian marque has bigger things to worry about with it now being widely accepted that the RC16 has been outdeveloped by its rivals since the beginning of the year. Even 20-year-old Acosta visited its headquarters in the summer break to give its bosses an additional push to get its grand prix programme back on track.

On the rider front, KTM would have done just fine if it had played safe and put Miller alongside Vinales at Tech3 next year. With a better understanding of the bike and a stronger package, chances are Miller would have been a regular top 10 runner, with an occasional visit to the podium depending upon how strong the competition is.

While the priority for Miller is to still race in MotoGP next year, it would be prudent of him to accept the reality and look elsewhere

The decision to hire an all-new line-up is risky, but combined with the ever-reliable Binder and rising star Acosta, KTM will easily have one of the best line-ups of any factory next year. Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaro are also doing an incredible job as test riders, minimising the loss of Miller and his prowess in developing a bike.

So unless Vinales or Bastianini struggle to acquaint themselves with the handling characteristics of the RC16, it’s unlikely KTM will miss Miller much next season.

Will 2024 beckon the end of Miller's MotoGP ride?

Will 2024 beckon the end of Miller’s MotoGP ride?

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images



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Ducati offers Miller factory seat in WSBK after KTM MotoGP exit


Ducati has entered into negotiations with current KTM MotoGP rider Jack Miller to replace Alvaro Bautista in the World Superbike Championship next year.

Bautistia’s future in WSBK came under threat at the previous round in Most, where another hat-trick of victories for BMW’s Toprak Razgatlioglu further dented any hopes of adding a third straight title to his tally.

Not only has Bautista been unable to put up any resistance against the Turkish rider, he has also not been able to match the performances of his rookie team-mate Nicolo Bulega, who sits 40 points and one place ahead of him in the standings.

Over the course of the Czech Republic weekend, Bautista admitted for the first time that he wished to remain with Ducati for at least one more season in WSBK, signalling his hopes of a contract extension.

“I want to continue. We are talking with Ducati about renewing the contract,” he said. “I think it’s not fair to end my career like this. I need to enjoy the bike again, to feel strong.”

It is understood that the Spaniard’s representatives sat down with Ducati and asked for a more financially lucrative contract, which prompted the Borgo Panigale to look for alternatives.

Alvaro Bautista, Aruba.It Racing - Ducati

Alvaro Bautista, Aruba.It Racing — Ducati

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Ducati’s factory team has a budget close to one million euros for rider salaries, of which the Spaniard already receives €750,000 a year, with Bulega taking home €200,000.

Bulega has reportedly renewed his contract for 2025 and received a substantial increase in salary on the back of his impressive results this year, with his pay going up to €450,000. That means the second Ducati rider will receive roughly the same amount next year from a total budget of under €1m, which is far lower than what Bautista aspires for.

This has now brought Miller into play, and Motorsport.com understands that Ducati has reached out to him regarding a move to WSBK.

Miller was part of Ducati’s MotoGP effort between 2018-22, as he spent three years with Pramac before stepping up to the factory team in 2021. He scored three victories in his time at Ducati in the premier class during his time, the last of which arrived at the Japanese GP in 2022.

The Australian moved to KTM last year at the end of his stint with Ducati, but is leaving the Austrian brand after Pedro Acosta was promoted to the factory team alongside Brad Binder, while Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini have been signed to the satellite Tech3 squad from 2025.

It initially appeared that the Australian could find a reprieve at Aprilia’s satellite team Trackhouse Racing, which was looking for a new rider to take the place currently occupied by Miguel Oliveira. But with the American outfit now closing in on a deal with Moto2 championship contender Ai Ogura, that route also now appears to be closed.

Ai Ogura, MT Helmets MSI

Ai Ogura, MT Helmets MSI

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Miller is now waiting for other moves in the rider market before deciding the next course in his career. Apart from Ducati, he is believed to have at least one more offer from a factory team to join WSBK in 2025.

However, the 29-year-old prefers to pursue his options in the premier class at the moment and has asked for time until the Austrian GP on 16-18 August before finalising his future.

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Jack Miller reveals brutal KTM U-turn on his MotoGP future


Jack Miller has revealed KTM told him ‘don’t talk to anybody’ in MotoGP ‘because we want to keep you in the family’ before being informed he would not be staying.

The 29-year-old’s future with KTM has hung in the balance for much of the 2024 season, with it widely expected that Pedro Acosta would be taking his place at the factory team in 2025 before the move was officially announced at the start of the month.

But remaining within the KTM fold – having joined from Ducati last year – was still possible with Tech3, and ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix Miller says he was told the Austrian marque wanted to keep hold of him.

“I was surprised, because last I heard was ‘don’t bother talking to anybody because we want to keep you in the family’ and then you get a phone call three hours before the press release gets launched saying that you’re not getting a contract,” Miller said at Assen on Thursday.

“So, yeah, I was surprised. To say the least. But it is what it is. But as I said to them, I didn’t come to this project to be in and out in two years.

“I left probably the most competitive bike on the grid to come over here and try and bring my knowledge.

“And I feel like last year, what we were able to bring already to improve the bike to a certain level was a big addition.”

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Photo by: KTM Images

KTM ultimately decided to refresh its Tech3 line-up with two outsiders in Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales and Ducati’s Enea Bastianini, leaving Miller and Augusto Fernandez without rides currently for 2025.

Miller says he has options on the table, with links to Gresini Ducati – which will retain Alex Marquez in 2025 – and Honda emerging in recent weeks, while strong relations with Pramac could make him a target for its Yamaha switch next year.

What’s clear in Miller’s mind, though, is that what he does next is not going to be dictated by his family life and has not weighed up the possibility of becoming a test rider.

“At the moment, it’s all been talk,” he said. “So, it’s about weighing up what I want, what the project has to offer in terms of obviously going to a Ducati is very, very interesting because I know the bike very well, I know the structure very well.

“I have no doubts I can get back on that bike and be inside the top five almost instantly. But a lot of things are changing in MotoGP come ’27, and working on a project and looking for a long-term home to finish out my last strong years in MotoGP and working towards a common goal – which I thought we had, but we didn’t.

“So, that’s one of those things we need to weigh up. I have money in my account, I’m very fortunate. So it’s not about that. It’s what I want for my career.”

On the possibility of taking on a test role, he added: “For the moment, I can’t even put myself in that realm because I don’t think of myself as a test rider.

“I enjoy this too much, I enjoy racing. I don’t enjoy the testing side of it, I do it because I enjoy the work because you are working towards a goal.

“But in terms of just going round and round in circles on a motorcycle doesn’t excite me. Going out there and competing with 22 other bikes is what I’m here for. Who knows for the future, but all I want to do is race.”

Does Miller truly merit another chance in MotoGP?

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

The Australian is adamant that he has more to give in MotoGP, even if he feels like what has achieved already is more than he could have dreamed of if his career does come to an end.

Miller has always considered himself to be one of MotoGP’s most doubted riders, and there is cause for that.

Stepping straight up to MotoGP in 2015 with LCR Honda on a three-year HRC deal, Miller’s attitude and work ethic was heavily criticised at the time. At the end of that first season, he scored just 17 points and didn’t trouble the top 10.

The bike he was on, though, was a production-derived Open class Honda with about as much power behind it as a gentle breeze. An injury-hit second year on a proper RC213V with Marc VDS stunted his progress, but when the opportunity arose to win at Assen in the wet Miller didn’t put a foot wrong.

Being a consistent top 10 challenger on difficult Honda machinery in 2017 earned him a Pramac Ducati seat for 2018 and in 2019 he began troubling the podium a bit more frequently with five third-place finishes.

At the same time, Ducati started to show trust in him by having him develop new items – a role the Italian marque had him carry out up to his final outing in Valencia 2022 long after his move to KTM was sealed.

Back-to-back wins in Spain and France in 2021 ended his drought, but only one win would follow after that – in Japan in 2022, in what was easily his best ride to date in MotoGP. But with factory team-mate Francesco Bagnaia winning six times that year on his way to the title and Bastianini four times on a year-old Ducati at Gresini in third in the standings (30 points clear of the Australian), Miller’s form fell well short of what was necessary.

In his first year on the KTM in 2023, he scored just one grand prix podium (throwing away a golden opportunity for a win in Valencia to boot) while team-mate Brad Binder managed five, as well as two sprint wins, with 130 points splitting them in the championship. That can be somewhat chalked up to bike experience, given how different the RC16 is to the Ducati he previously rode.

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

The 2024 KTM hasn’t been the consistent package it should be so far, with it scoring just three GP podiums in the first seven rounds. Acosta’s stunning form is helping mask this, with the rookie able to extract the absolute maximum out of it. Binder is only 16 points adrift, so there is performance there.

But Miller has only amassed 27 and failed to score in five of the seven GP races run so far in 2024. That puts him only 14 clear of Augusto Fernandez, and so based on numbers alone, KTM’s decision is justifiable – not least with Vinales winning a GP for Aprilia this year and Bastianini finding podium form on the Ducati.

However, much of Miller’s frustrations at the lack of results this year suggest that KTM has over-relied on his Ducati information to improve its RC16 without actually bringing significant developments to the bike.

“Now we have hit a bit of a wall and that comes down to development, what we need to develop and where we need to go with the bike,” he noted. “There’s only so much bringing the information from another manufacturer can bring you forward.

“In the end, parts need to come, development needs to happen. And we’re at that wall. So, like I said, I didn’t plan on being here for two years. That was not the anticipation. But that’s the way the cookie crumbled. But when one door closes, another door opens and hopefully we can do some decent things because the ultimate goal when I signed for KTM was to try to win on three different manufacturers and that goal is still there.”

KTM’s handling of the Miller situation also shows that it still hasn’t ousted the inherent rider treatment problem it has been guilty of in the past.

Remy Gardner was told halfway through his rookie 2022 season with Tech3 that his attitude wasn’t good enough and was forced to find a ride in World Superbikes for 2023. Raul Fernandez didn’t really want to go to MotoGP with Tech3 and KTM in 2022 having preferred Petronas SRT Yamaha, but ended up with the Austrian marque anyway.

Iker Lecuona was drafted into Tech3 in 2020 as a late option when Brad Binder was moved to the factory team instead, with the Spaniard having not had much circuit racing experience and given little time to improve before being dumped at the end of 2021.

Racing is a ruthless game, however, and Miller’s slump on the KTM has come at the wrong time. Arguably Miller’s strengths lie in being a test rider, but he has proven multiple race-winning potential on competitive machinery and that’s not something to be sniffed at for any team considering the Australian.



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Miller looking for answers to «head-scratcher» KTM MotoGP race pace


KTM endured its worst outing of the 2024 season at Le Mans, with Brad Binder the only rider out of its four-strong contingent to finish inside the top 10 on Sunday.

Miller was running a distant 12th when he suffered a fall at Turn 11 on lap 16, bringing an early end to his weekend in France.

But while the crash itself was puzzling for the Australian, he was more baffled by why he didn’t have the pace to contend with the frontrunners in race conditions.

«I struggled to stay in the [1m]31s, struggled to do any 31s,» he said. «This morning on a used tyre [in warm-up], it felt mega, I was able to run 31s consistently by myself. But come race time, I’m really struggling to run the pace.

«The bike started feeling better and better as the race went on.

«I didn’t do anything different [where I crashed], braked at the same spot. I was 1km/h faster than the lap before, but not the fastest I’ve gone in there and straight up and down she locked.

«A real head-scratcher just trying to understand what we can do differently to try and turn the ship around. But it’s a difficult moment for sure.»

Photo by: Marc Fleury

Miller explained that he was able to show strong pace in long runs during practice and warm-up when he was running without traffic, but struggled to replicate the same speed during the race while running inside the pack.

The 29-year-old has no explanation for this contrast in performance, saying he and KTM need to try something different in order to turn things around.

«Saturday afternoon [in sprint] I really struggled a lot on Turn 1 and [it was the] same today.

«And this morning, it was no issue whatsoever at Turn 1 and the same throughout the rest of the weekend. I literally said on Friday that it’s the most stable and the most comfortable the bike’s ever felt at Turn 1. Might have jinxed myself.

«Just trying to understand what exactly it is, how we can try to run the pace when the other bikes are around and when we are around the other boys because I’m really suffering.

«I was able to do good lap times alone and stay really consistent in the 31s. Literally in that FP3 it felt like I could ride around smoking a cigarette and doing it.

«Trying to work it out, trying to understand what I need to do differently. I’ve been an open book this year and trying to do everything I can and it will turn, but it’s just a matter of when.»

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Miller «struggling» to get luck turning his way after Spain MotoGP exit


While both team-mate Brad Binder and GasGas Tech3 rookie Pedro Acosta have finished on the podium this year, Miller has only managed one finish inside the top five in the opening four rounds of the season.

Miller was running in 11th position on the factory KTM on lap 17 in Sunday’s grand prix at Jerez when Pramac rival Morbidelli made a futile overtaking attempt going into Turn 5, sending both riders on the ground.

The collision brought a premature end to what had been a trying weekend for the Australian, who also suffered a first-lap crash in the sprint, returning empty-handed from Spain.

Asked to explain the clash with Morbidelli, the four-time grand prix winner said he was closely following KTM stablemate Acosta when the Italian launched an attack on him.

“When Pedro [Acosta] came past, I tried to hook the claws in him, just to understand what he is doing differently, try and learn as much as possible,” said the 29-year-old.

“Unfortunately that got cut short when Franky decided he wanted to make a gap when there was no room.

“It resulted in us both having an early shower. So not the way we wanted to end the day.

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“I don’t know if I’ve run over a black cat or we fell under a ladder or something at the minute, but we are struggling to get the bloody thing luck turning our way. But we will stick with it, we’ll keep on the programme.”

A verbal altercation followed between Miller and Morbidelli after they both went down at Turn 5, with the KTM rider gesticulating at his rival during their heated conversation.

Miller revealed he did have to go to the race control in the aftermath of their crash, but no action was taken against either as the stewards deemed it to be a racing incident.

“I didn’t really get a telling off,” he said. “I got a telling off more for my actions afterward. But I didn’t hit him, I didn’t punch him or anything like that.

“I was obviously crashed [into] and then Franky told me in the gravel what I do to him yesterday [Saturday].

“I was quite dumbfounded because I said, ‘look, I crashed out of the f*****g first lap yesterday so I don’t know what I could have done. I don’t know if he had me confused with somebody else.

“Anyway, it’s not what we wanted.”

For his part, Morbidelli explained that he wasn’t attempting to overtake Miller into Turn 5 and their contact was a result of their lines merging into the corner.

“It was an unfortunate race incident,” he said. “Jack was doing a different line. It was at the end of the race, but I was quite a bit faster than him. But I couldn’t pass him because Jack was braking very fast.

“In that corner, I didn’t even want to pass him, but the way he made the line…I thought I would go on for mine. In the end, we had contact. It was a shame

Asked if he cleared the air with Miller later, the Italian replied: “The race was not going well for either of us, after you end up on the gravel it’s okay to be angry.”

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