Jack Miller’s disappointing performance in Qatar, alongside Pedro Acosta’s debut, has sparked renewed debate surrounding KTM’s lineup.
“Jack Miller is set to ‘feel the pressure’ as uncertainty looms over his KTM future,” claimed sources.
Miller suffered a front-end crash with his KTM at the season-opening Qatar MotoGP last weekend, forcing him to rejoin from the back of the pack.
He finished 21st, the last of the riders to complete the grand prix, and placed 10th in the sprint race.
Adding to Miller’s challenging weekend, newcomer Pedro Acosta showcased an impressive performance in his premier class debut race.
“The challenge for Jack is that the pressure will start to mount. He’ll feel it immediately,” remarked Sylvain Guintoli on TNT Sports.
“Pedro Acosta has made an immediate impact. Everyone is now discussing contracts. This is the moment when some riders have already secured renewals – like Pecco Bagnaia and Brad Binder…
“The second seat alongside Binder is now up for grabs. Acosta will undoubtedly have his eye on it. There’s a lot of pressure on Miller.”
“In the sprint race, he opted for the soft front tire – a choice no one else made. This suggests he had uncertainties about the medium option.
“However, for the Sunday race, he switched to the medium front tire and unfortunately crashed. This setback won’t boost his confidence either.”
Acosta, still only 19 years old, impressed in his debut MotoGP race with Tech3 GASGAS, overtaking both Marquez brothers before tire wear saw him finish ninth.
His promising performance, along with the growing hype around him, puts KTM in a position to potentially have one of the most talented riders in the sport.
While Binder has a long-term contract with KTM, both Miller and Augusto Fernandez’s deals are set to expire at the end of this season.
Acosta’s strong debut, paired with Miller’s challenging result in Qatar, has injected a new element of discussion into the 2025 season’s rider lineup.
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