Miller cuts first laps on KTM RC16

Jack Miller has taken his initial steps with KTM for the 2023 MotoGP season, completing the Valencia test on the RC16 that he’ll be riding for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing next year.

On track for almost the entirety of the 7-8 November test, Miller made numerous small set-up changes to the 2023-spec RC16 along the way, while team mate Brad Binder worked with three configurations of the KTM MotoGP bike, including a hybrid of the 2022 and 2023 spec chassis.

“We were able to get on track relatively early and ride right until the end of the session - and did a lot of laps shaking down the new bike, understanding the new team. It was a good day,” Miller enthused.

On the transition from Ducati’s Desmosedici to KTM’s RC16, Miller was equally positive.

“I adapted easier than I expected, after being on another bike for such a considerable time, but I felt pretty comfortable from the start. By the end of the day [I was] pretty happy with how we finished up.”

Miller ended the Valencia post-season test in 17th place, 0.755 seconds off the fastest time set by Mooney VR46 Racing Ducati’s Luca Marini, while Binder was seventh fastest. 

The 2023 MotoGP season will see Miller in KTM orange for the first time since 2014, when he rode for Aki Ajo’s Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team and narrowly lost the championship to Alex Marquez.

Miller’s next opportunity to ride the KTM RC16 will be at the Sepang Shakedown Official MotoGP Test in February and Portimao Test in early March before the 2023 season gets underway at the same Portuguese circuit on 25-27 March.