The 2024 MotoGP season has not been kind to Jack Miller. Aside from a fortunate fifth place at the second Grand Prix of the season in Portugal, the Australian struggled to make a significant impression. Miller's performances this year have been particularly disappointing, especially compared to his KTM teammates Brad Binder and rookie Pedro Acosta, who have shown more promise and consistency on the track.
Francesco Guidotti, the team director KTM, attributed the poor performance of Miller to technical problems, in particular vibrations caused by the new package and tire construction Michelin used this year. These vibrations significantly affected the ability to Miller to exploit the potential of his KTM RC16.
Guidotti has explained : " Jack suffers more than the others from vibrations with the new package. These problems have been present since the start of the season, and it particularly affects Jack and Augusto Fernandez. They have difficulty using the motorcycle's potential as they would like »
The team had planned to test different settings to alleviate these issues during post-race testing at Mugello. Unfortunately, the weather was not favorable, and the rain limited the valuable data they could collect. This missed opportunity meant they could not find a permanent solution to the vibration issues, leaving Miller and the team continue their adaptation efforts.
Francesco Guidotti: “ I can't imagine Jack Miller giving up »
The disappointing performance of Miller influenced the decision to KTM regarding his future with the team. With Brad Binder et Pedro Acosta ready to lead the factory team, and Enea Bastianini et Maverick Vinales signed for the Tech3 team, Miller finds itself without a place in the future plans of KTM. Moreover, Pit Beirer, the competition director for the Pierer Mobility group ruled out the possibility for Miller to become a test driver for the team.
Despite knowing the imminent end of his time with KTM, Guidotti believes on motorsport total that this situation will motivate even more Jack Miller. " He will definitely want to prove that we made a mistake by not giving him another chance. He will want to show that he deserves a place in MotoGP, even if it is with another manufacturer. I can't imagine him giving up; he will want to enjoy MotoGP until the end »
The current position of Miller, 16th in the ranking, just ahead of his distinguished colleague Augusto Fernandez, highlights the challenges he faces. As the season progresses, Miller and the team KTM will need to continue to work hard to resolve issues and improve performance. Meanwhile, 'JackAss' will aim to exploit every remaining race to demonstrate his ability and secure his future in MotoGP, whether with KTM or another team.
As the season progresses, it will be crucial to see if KTM can resolve technical issues and if Miller can find the performance needed to secure a place in the championship in 2025 and beyond.
