Kiwi Rider June 2022 Vol.2 | Page 88

ROAD NEWS

AUSSIE JACK MILLER TO KTM MOTOGP

After five seasons racing on Bologna ’ s Ducati machinery , Aussie hero Jack Miller is moving to a new spot with the KTM MotoGP factory team . The MotoGP Grand Prix winner will return to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing family for the next two years after last running in Team Tangerine in the Moto3 World Championship in 2014 - where he rode to 2nd place overall . While Miller only turned 27 in January , he already has more than a decade of Grand Prix experience , including nine victories and almost 30 podiums in both Moto3 and MotoGP classes - as well as a hard won 3rd place at the Sachsenring round on June 19 . The 27-year-old Aussie will line-up next to Brad Binder and will run his ninth and tenth seasons in the premier class on the KTM RC16 . “ Of course we ’ ve known Jack since he made a boom with Aki and our Moto3 programme and it ’ s a big pleasure to bring a rider of his capabilities into our MotoGP structure ”, says Director of KTM Motorsports , Pit Beirer . “ He left us with a positive impression , and we ’ ve stayed in contact . Jack ’ s approach and attitude to racing are very similar to ours . I am very proud that he comes back to Red Bull KTM again and he will be a great addition to our mission .” That impression Beirer speaks of was Miller ’ s stunning last season with KTM in 2014 where six wins in the season saw him only just miss out on the Moto3 title . He made a high-profile move straight into the MotoGP class for 2015 , where

he has established a reputation for maximum effort , full-energy and a large personality . Miller will link again with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager Francesco Guidotti having worked with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ’ s current Team Manager for three of his eight years in MotoGP . “ Having Jack alongside Brad in our team means we have another strong asset ,” says Guidotti . “ I know him well , I know how he likes to work and what he can bring to the box . I believe his character and the way he will ride and push our KTM RC16 will help us a lot at this stage of our project . Like Brad , Jack is a pure racer : he will find the limits and the maximum of any condition and any package and still ‘ go for it ’ to get the result and that is quite a rare quality . The next two seasons will be exciting !” We hope Jack can get to grips with the Michelin front tyre issues the KTM team is suffering , with it not suiting the dynamics of the RC16 V4 .
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