Метка: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

What next for MotoGP stalwart Jack Miller?

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


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



Source link

Has KTM hit a ceiling with its MotoGP bike in 2024?

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


KTM’s early season run of three consecutive podium finishes now seems like a distant memory. To think that Brad Binder was able to finish just 1.239s behind race winner Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) in Qatar just four months ago is almost hard to believe, considering where KTM is in the pecking order at present.

Take last fortnight’s German GP for comparison. The top RC16 of GasGas rider Pedro Acosta finished only seventh and more than 14s behind the leader, a week after Binder had taken the chequered flag 16s down in sixth. In fact, since Acosta finished second in the Americas GP in April, a KTM rider has only been able to finish inside the top five just once in a grand prix. Those statistics make for a pretty grim reading.

Factory rider Jack Miller made a poignant revelation at the Sachsenring that could explain why KTM’s form has suddenly disappeared.

“We are on the same package in terms of base stuff, we have the same stuff as Misano last year,” he said.

“There’s always going to be a roof and you need to develop and make things better to improve that and move the roof further. 

“We are on a similar chassis that we have been on since Misano last year, the first addition of the carbon fibre frame, but we haven’t made any adjustments or done anything to that. 

“There are areas we can work on the bike to try to set the bar higher.”

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

KTM, of course, shook the MotoGP paddock in September last when test rider Dani Pedrosa debuted a chassis made entirely out of carbon fibre at Misano.

Both Miller and Binder switched to the same frame later that month, marking a major leap for the Austrian manufacturer in its pursuit of catching the all-conquering Ducatis.

But the fact that the KTM hasn’t been able to improve that chassis in the next 10 months goes to show just how behind it has dropped behind in the development race since then. From bringing new innovations to not introducing any major updates, it’s quite a departure for the Pierer Mobility Group.

Of course, throwing new parts on the bike every weekend doesn’t always bring forward a step in performance. What KTM needs is a methodical plan, as Binder explained during the Sachsenring weekend.

“We haven’t had an update for a long time, for sure,” he said. “More than anything [what] we need a clear understanding of which direction to go in. 

“We have been playing a lot with the balances this weekend [at Sachsenring] and finally we did things we had never done before which don’t really make sense but it makes the bike a bit better. 

“Clearly we need to understand things a little bit better and then we can bring the parts to help us.”

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Jack Miller, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

To help find a clear direction, KTM must also fully understand where exactly the RC16 is lagging behind its rivals. While the engine powering the bike has proved to be reliable and quick, there are a number of other areas that require additional focus.

“We need a little bit more grip, a little bit more turning,” said Miller. “[With top] speed we are alright, the engine is strong and the aero package is pretty strong. We can understand where we are on the front end of the bike. 

“It’s just a matter of what we need to do to get a little bit more turning, a bit more grip both on the front and the rear to go faster and brake later, get on the gas earlier and hopefully carry more corner speed.”

After the German GP, Acosta bought a ‘one-way ticket’ to Austria to meet the top brass at KTM, understand how its MotoGP programme is run on the inside and help the marque in fixing the weaknesses of the RC16.

He is being accompanied on the trip by technical chief Paul Trevathan and head of suspensions Miguel Olivenza.

Acosta had originally planned to speak to KTM’s head of technology Fabiano Sterlacchini on his visit to Austria, but Gigi Dall’Igna’s former right-hand man split with the team after the Sachsenring weekend.

Nevertheless, the Spaniard will be keeping himself busy with a series of meetings with other members of the factory team. The visit is not only important for KTM but Acosta himself, as it could help him find out if he is in the right place to fight for a MotoGP title in the near future.

Pedro Acosta, Red Bull GASGAS Tech3

Pedro Acosta, Red Bull GASGAS Tech3

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

«The first thing I’m going to do when I arrive is meet the people and see what happens on the first day, how everything works and what each one does,” he explained.

“When I go to sleep and I understand all the roles and who is in charge in one place and who is in charge in the other, and who is the head of the chassis and the one on the other side, why do things get done [in a particular way]. Because now it is very easy to criticise, ask or demand things that I, for the moment, do not know how they are going.

“I prefer to first find out how everything is going and why things are not done or why they are, or who gives power to one or takes it away from the other, to know which path has to be taken.”

KTM is incredibly lucky to have a top rider like Acosta in its wings and has rightly offered him an early contract for the factory squad for 2025. The addition of race winners Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales will also be a major boost for the marque, especially as they replace two weak links in the line-up — Miller and Augusto Fernandez.

But with Ducati being in a “league of its own” according to Binder, KTM now must work on bringing meaningful updates to ensure its bike can match its riding talent.

Additional reporting by German Garcia Casanova and Sebastian Franzschky

Read Also:



Source link

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

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


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.



Source link

Martin didn’t make Aprilia MotoGP decision «out of anger”, says Rivola

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


On Monday evening, it was announced that Martin will leave the Ducati fold after four seasons and move to Aprilia in 2025, replacing the retiring Aleix Espargaro on a multi-year deal.

It followed a series of events over the past week at Mugello, as the Spaniard went from being selected for the factory Ducati seat to having that ride snatched away from him.

On Saturday afternoon, a member of Ducati asked Martin for time to find a way to keep both him and Gresini’s Marc Marquez in its roster for 2025.

But Martin refused to give Ducati any more time, prompting the Borgo Panigale marque to inform his manager that it was withdrawing the offer for him to join the factory team.

Martin and his agent met immediately afterwards and decided to accept one of the three offers on the table, electing to move to Aprilia on a two-year contract.

The deal between the two parties was signed on Monday, with Aprilia subsequently announcing the agreement in a short video where Espargaro welcomed his replacement Martin to the team.

Later in the afternoon, Rivola spoke to the media to express his “enormous satisfaction” at having closed the deal with a “top rider” in MotoGP.

While it could be interpreted that Martin made a hasty decision to join Aprilia following disagreement with Ducati, whose actions were dictated by the fear of losing six-time champion Marquez, Rivola insists the Spaniard’s decision was well-thought.

Jorge Martin, Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing

Jorge Martin, Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing

Photo by: Aprilia Racing

«This is a question we should ask Jorge,” he said. “I can only say that I’m very glad he took it, and if he’s angry he might be a tenth faster still next year.

‘This is a question we should ask Jorge. I can only say that I am very happy that he has taken it, and if he is angry it is possible that he will be a tenth faster next year,” he said.

I don’t know, but I can honestly say that I have seen Jorge happy, very happy. Maybe in his head it wasn’t clear that he had to make a decision, but he made it.

“I saw Jorge happy, and I saw Aleix excited and happy to welcome him. I think it was a moment in which Jorge made an important decision and took a weight off his shoulders. I want to think that Jorge has made a decision and that he will be happy that he has made it.»

For former Ferrari Formula 1 engineer Rivola, signing the current championship leader was an opportunity that it couldn’t afford to lose.

«The truth is that I didn’t imagine that a rider like Jorge was going to be free on the market. When I started to see what Ducati was doing and that the possibility came up, we took it immediately,” he said.

Rivola revealed that Aprilia started working on recruiting Martin after it became clear on the eve of the Spanish Grand Prix that its long-time rider Espargaro was going to pull the curtain down on his premier class career at the end of 2024.

“When Aleix told us in Barcelona that he is retiring at the end of the season, we started to take an interest in the possibilities,” he said.

“Surely my moves have motivated others to make decisions, as first they said they were going to announce it in Mugello, then they said they weren’t.

“We adapted to Aleix’s decision, which was to be in Italy but he wanted to do it at home and we brought it forward, and I have to say that it was lucky, because that advance is what allowed us to start talking to Jorge, and seeing him so motivated and happy to sign for us makes us very happy too.”

Maverick Vinales, Aprilia Racing

Maverick Vinales, Aprilia Racing

Photo by: MotoGP

It remains unclear if Aprilia will sign a fresh contract with Maverick Vinales and keep him in the factory team for 2025 or look for alternate options in the rider market.

Vinales’ existing deal is due to expire this season.

“I also consider Maverick to be a top rider, and to have a pairing with the two of them, for me, would be the strongest pairing in the championship,” he said.

“But you can’t always have what you want. Today we were presented with the opportunity to sign Martin and we took it on the fly, with speed and determination. The fastest contract in history.

“Surely of all the offers Jorge had, ours, although respectable, was probably not the highest, but the quality of the team and the work we are doing and the work that Aleix has spoken to him about has convinced him.”

Read Also:



Source link

Enea Bastianini set to ride a KTM in 2025 MotoGP season

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


The five-time MotoGP race winner’s fate at Ducati was revealed on Monday 3 June when Motorsport.com broke the news that the Italian manufacturer had decided to promote Marc Marquez to its factory team.

While an official Ducati announcement is still forthcoming, it was all but confirmed on Monday evening when Aprilia announced it had signed a multi-year deal with Jorge Martin.

In 2025, Bastianini will face his fifth season in the premier class, where he has scored a total of five wins, 24 podiums and nine pole positions.

He earned a promotion to the factory Ducati squad after a stellar 2022 campaign on a year-old bike at Gresini, winning four races and challenging for the championship, but failed to live up to expectations at the Italian marque’s works team.

The Pierer Mobility Group, which manages both the factory KTM team and the works-suppported Tech3 GasGas satellite structure, is set to alter its branding strategy to have four RC16s racing in the company’s famous orange colours.

In fact, the interest of the business group led by Stefan Pierer in taking over the two places that, until now, have been attributed to Herve Poncharal — team owner of the French Tech3 squad — is not new.

So far, Poncharal has not wanted to get rid of them, although he has not been short of offers and it is not yet clear what the future of Tech3 will be under KTM’s new plans.

It is not clear who will partner Bastianini at the second KTM squad in 2025 after Pedro Acosta’s promotion to its factory team alongside Brad Binder was confirmed last weekend.

Jack Miller, who has endured a disappointing stint with KTM, is out of contract with the Austrian manufacturer at the end of the year and it is not known if he will continue to factor into its plans in 2025.

An official announcement from KTM on Bastianini’s signing is expected soon.

Read Also:



Source link

Acosta does not expect Marquez to join KTM; Ducati «looks like a soap opera”

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


The MotoGP silly season is in full swing heading into Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, with all eyes on the battle to fill the vacant factory seat at Ducati alongside Francesco Bagnaia.

During the week, current championship leader and Pramac rider Jorge Martin emerged as the favourite to replace Enea Bastianini in Ducati’s line-up for 2025, although no confirmation has been forthcoming from the squad.

Martin’s potential graduation to the works Ducati team has opened up a coveted seat at Pramac for Marc Marquez, but the Spaniard ruled out moving to the Italian squad next year — stressing he would like to either continue with Gresini on a 2025-spec bike or take the place currently occupied by Bastianini.

Marquez’s stance against moving from one satellite bike to another, albeit one that gets latest-spec machinery and factory support, has led to a complex battle within Ducati.

The situation is complicated further by the fact that Ducati is currently capable of only supplying four full-factory bikes, with Pramac set to be the only satellite team to get its hands on them if it agrees a new contract with the Italian marque. This means that, at present, there is no room for Marquez to get anything more recent than a year-old bike at Gresini in 2025.

This has opened up the possibility of the six-time MotoGP champion leaving the Ducati fold after just one season, with it being suggested that he has an offer from other manufacturers, including KTM.

However, Tech3 GasGas rider Acosta quashed these suggestions at Mugello, clarifying that he will team up with incumbent Brad Binder when he moves up to the Austrian marque’s factory team next year.

«Yes, I’ll be with Brad, he’s under contract until his twenties (2026),» he said.

When asked about rumours linking Marquez to riding a RC16 next year, Acosta likened the current state-of-affairs at Ducati to a television show.

«I don’t know, ask Pit [Beirer, KTM’s sporting director].» he said. «I don’t know if that’s out of the question. At the end of the day this Ducati thing looks like a soap opera, every weekend we have a different answer but nobody knows anything.”

On Saturday, KTM announced that Acosta will be promoted to its main team in 2025 as part of a new contract, replacing four-time MotoGP race winner Jack Miller.

The 20-year-old was delighted to secure a move to the ‘orange team’ less than seven rounds into the season, having impressed his bosses with podiums in Portimao and Austin and further top results in sprints.

«As far as I’m concerned, I’m happy with the team they’ve given me this year, with everything they’re giving me and with making the step to the official team to wear orange again,»  he said.

«I’m happy, yesterday they showed me the photo of when I signed my first contract to go to Moto3 in 2020, in Valencia, and I look like a child. 

“Look at how hard it took me to get there and how quickly we’ve gotten here to where we are now. 

“It’s the return home, dressing in orange again, was one of the goals of the year if everything went the way we wanted and wanted. 

“Happy to take all my team there and to see all the support they are giving us to be closer to the first. I think all their effort and mine is paying off.»

Read Also:



Source link

Pedro Acosta secures factory KTM MotoGP seat for 2025

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO



The 20-year-old has secured a promotion to KTM’s top squad after just six rounds into his rookie campaign, where he has already secured two grand prix podiums and fought with champions including Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia.

«It was important to me to keep pushing with KTM, and to see the whole project and the story until now and how we have grown in racing,» said Acosta.

«So, it’s nice to carry on for the future: getting in orange is like coming back home. The way they are pushing and improving in the last couple of years is what is also pushing me to stay for the next couple of years.»

Acosta has been nurtured by KTM since his early days in grand prix racing effectively guaranteed a premier class ride while he was still racing in Moto3 in 2021.

He finally made his much-awaited move to MotoGP this year as the reigning Moto2 champion, joining Augusto Fernandez at the GasGas-branded Tech3 satellite squad, but on a factory RC16 and with KTM-supplied engineers.

So impressive has Acosta been in the early part of the 2024 season that he has been the top-scoring rider on the KTM, with his results in the opening six rounds putting him a solid sixth in the championship — two places ahead of Binder.

Acosta was widely expected to secure a seat at the factory KTM squad in 2025, but the Austrian marque took the surprise decision to announce his move even before the summer break.

He will take the place currently occupied by Miller, who is currently in his second season with KTM after joining from Ducati.

KTM had already warned that Miller and Fernandez have not been performing as per the marque’s expectations, with the two riders currently sitting 15th and 17th in the standings and having scored only 40 points between them compared to Acosta’s tally of 83.

The announcement, however, doesn’t necessarily signal the end of the road for Miller at KTM, with the Australian believed to be evaluated for a move in the opposite direction to GasGas.

Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director said: “It gives us great pleasure to announce this news. We are as excited as everyone else when Pedro shows his speed and personality on the track, and it looks like this boy is winning a lot of new fans all around the globe. 

“From the first days in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup we could see he was a special rider. Somebody that does things differently, and with the strongest mentality to make his own way. It makes him unique in this MotoGP world. It gives us a lot of energy and power to make this journey with him through our teams and our motorcycles. 

“I also want to give a mention to our KTM GP Academy and the work of people like Aki Ajo with Pedro. It is super-cool that we will be together for a few more years. He has a very big future in MotoGP and we really look forward to the next chapter of his career with us.”

Binder has a long-term contract with KTM that runs until the end of the 2026 season.

Read Also:



Source link

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

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


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.»

Read Also:



Source link

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

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


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.”

Read Also:



Source link