MotoGP rider Jack Miller frustrated with multiple calendar changes
MotoGP has once again been hit with a series of in-season calendar changes, frustrating riders, teams, and fans alike. This comes as no surprise, as the series has seen several disruptions in recent years due to various reasons. However, KTM MotoGP rider Jack Miller has had enough and believes the constant changes are “getting old.”
The original 2024 championship was scheduled to have 21 grand prix races, but even before the season began, there were already changes in the calendar. Argentina’s round three was cancelled due to a lack of funding under the new government, and the Kazakhstan GP was postponed due to extreme flooding.
The cancellation of the Indian GP in May led to Kazakhstan being slotted into its original dates, making it the third major change in the 2024 calendar. For Miller, who will not be racing for KTM in 2025, these disruptions do not affect his preparation much. However, he acknowledges that it has become a recurring issue in MotoGP and isn’t healthy for the series as a whole.
“I’m just trying to take it one race at a time,” said Miller. “That’s all we can do. If I was higher up in the points, maybe I would be wanting more or less, I don’t know. It’s hard to say from my position, but at this point, it hasn’t affected me much.”
He continued, “You do set a plan out at the beginning of the year, and that’s what you’re training towards. It’s not just been this year; it’s been the last few years we’ve had it disrupted, which is getting old. It’s frustrating for us as riders and also for the fans. You expect a certain number of grand prix races, and then having two or three being kicked off the championship is disappointing.”
With the Kazakhstan GP being postponed, there was a three-week gap between the Italian and Dutch GP, followed by back-to-back rounds. Then, there will be another three-week break between Germany and Great Britain.
Calendar changes have become a common occurrence in MotoGP, with the Finnish GP originally scheduled for 2020 but was later cancelled. The COVID pandemic has also caused numerous alterations in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Kosport Magazine’s Take:
These constant calendar changes have become a frustrating reality for MotoGP riders, teams, and fans. Miller’s frustration is shared by many, and it’s clear that the series needs to find a solution to avoid future disruptions. These changes not only affect the riders’ preparation, but they also take a toll on the expectations of the fans. Let’s hope that these recent alterations are the last of it, and we can enjoy the remaining races without any further disturbance.
