Jack Miller Describes Weaknesses of the KTM After disappointing Sepang Test

Categories:   MotoGP 

After five years with Ducati, Jack Miller moves to the KTM factory team for 2023. The Australian leaves the first test in Sepang disappointed.

New KTM rider Jack Miller lost a little more than a second to Luca Marini’s best time at the MotoGP pre-season test in Sepang. 

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Despite massive development work in the aerodynamics area, the Austrians are again lagging behind.

Brad Binder and Jack Miller finished the test in 14th and 18th place – not where KTM had expected themselves to be. 

Newcomer Miller confirms: “We ran into a bit of a wall when we tried to get more out of the bike with the set-up work.”

 

We worked on the geometry to make me feel a bit more comfortable. Before noon we managed an improvement in that respect.”

The Australian likes his new bike: “The power is good, but we are still working on making the power delivery a bit smoother.”

“The engine has a lot of peak power. The bike is fast, Miller notes. “But we still need to improve coming out of slow corners. That’s the problem.”

“Riding behind other bikes, I realized that’s where we have deficits. We don’t bring the power to the ground that well.”

“But as soon as we have third gear in, we can keep up with all the other bikes,” Miller praises the performance of the KTM engine.

In terms of peak power, the KTM differs only slightly from the Ducati, which Miller rode until last year. Nevertheless, the switch to the Austrian power unit is anything but easy for him.

“It was hard. The data recordings confirm that, compared to the other riders, I have problems in the apex of the corner, steering the bike in and then accelerating out of the corner.”

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“We need to understand all this better so that I can adapt as well as possible,” explains the Australian.

But the KTM is lacking in some areas, too, the Australian notes. “Basically, though, we lack some cornering speed, which is actually my strength.”

“I still have to achieve a better balance so that I can bring the bike through the corners better,” Miller describes the problem.

The four-time MotoGP race winner is in a learning phase that will last at least until the start of the season in Portimao.

“There is only one more test and then the first race is already coming up,” Miller is aware. “Currently I am learning something new about the bike every day. That’s cool.”

“There are so many things different that I still have to get used to.” Miller notes: “There are also positive aspects. I just have to understand them properly to use the strengths.”

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