Jack Miller: KTM ‘needs to develop’, still on ‘first model carbon fibre chassis’
‘We're still on the very first model of the carbon fibre chassis, we haven't to▨uched anything there’
Without a Sunday podium for the past six rounds and having slipped to third behind Ducati and Aprilia in the constructors’ standings, KTM knows the RC16 needs a technical boost during the MotoGP summer break.
"I want to protect our riders; somethi🌌ng is holding us back lately. We need to make a step in the summer break and give the riders better tools," motorsport director Pit Beirer said at the Sachsenring.
The factory’s predicament was highlighted by 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Jack Miller’s 2024 German MotoGP race tim🥂e (for 13th) being one-second slower than he𒉰 managed over the same 30 lap distance on his way to fifth place in 2023.
For comparison, Ducati’s 🌠Francesco Bagnaia won by going 12-seconds faster than wꦑhen he battled Jorge Martin to the line the year before.
Pedro Acosta, top KTM in Germany, beat Miller’s 2023 time by 9.5s on his way to sev🅠enth place but was s🃏till 14.746s behind Bagnaia at the chequered flag.
“We need to develop more, si🗹mple as that,” said Miller, whose factory seat alongside Brad Binder will be taken by Acosta for 2025✅.
“In te🌠rms of the base stuff, we're on the same as Misano last year.”
That includes the futuristic carbon fibre chassis, fast-tracked into use at the end of last season after a strong wild-card performance by Dani Pedrosa at Misano and promising post-race test w🎃ith the facto꧙ry race riders.
“We're still on t🅺he very first model of the carbon fibre chassis, we haven't touched anything there,” Miller said.
“So I think somethin෴g needs to be done either there, oಌr even the swingarm length, we're maxed out at the back end of the bike. I'm sure we need to keep trying to develop it.”
Like most KTM riders, M𒆙illers believes the RC16’s engi🌸ne and aero is ‘strong’.
“We need a little bit more grip, a little bit more turning,” explaine𝔍d Miller. “Speed is alrꦡight. The engine is strong, the aero package is strong I believe.
“Fortunately, we've got front stability back and can under♔stand w🌠here we are on the front end of the bike.
“It's just a matter of working out what we need to do to get a bit more turning, b🦩it more grip, both at the front and rear - go faster, brake later, get on the gas earlier and hopefully carry more corner speed!”
Off-track at the German MotoGP, KTM confirmed that Fabio Sterlacchini is not renewing his contract as the technical head of the factory’s road racing a𝔉ctivities.
“Fabiano's a fantastic engineer, and for sure it's a loss for the💦m,” said Miller, who also worked with Sterlacchini at Ducati and is yet to confirm his own future destination.
“I think he💯 was vital to this project and it's🔴 sad that they couldn't have kept things going…
"[But] better for me if I go somewhere else, to not have him working ꦐagainst me!”
KTM began the 2023 summer break with lead riওder Binder fourth in the riders’ standings, with 114 poiꦅnts over eight rounds.
This ꦿyear’s summer break starts with Acosta as the top KTM, in sixth, with 110 points over nine rounds. Binder is one place behind on 108 points.
Bagnaia has +28 points relative to this time last season. Ducati is +30 points in the constructors’ standing𒐪s with Aprilia on +22 points and KTM +12 points.
Despite concessions, the Japanese manufacturers have claimed fewer points than a 🌞year ago. Yamaha is on -34 points and Honda (now without Marc Marque♛z) -64 points.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 year𒁏s and has seen Valentino Rossi come and ༒go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
