Jack Miller gave a robust defence to comments made in the wake of the German MotoGP after declaring some riders need to ‘shut the f**k up’ when things aren’t going their way, even if he insists they weren’t aimed directly at Marc Marquez.

The KTM Factory Racing rider caused a stir in the Sachsenring paddock after finishing sixth in the German MotoGP as the only interloper within the top nine positions not to be aboard a Ducati, calling out rivals airing negative appraisals of their machinery in the media.

Labelling those offenders as ‘princesses’, Miller said: “Everybody wants to complain about their own bikes, nobody wants to do anything about it. Shut the f**k up and get on with the job. You’re paid to ride a motorcycle not to be a f**king princess and complain about your bike!”

Though he didn’t name any one rider specifically, it was broadly presumed Miller was referring to Marquez, who sat out the main GP after a fifth fast crash of the weekend in morning warm-up, Miller adding ‘they kicked out 99 per cent of the engineers, to get his engineers. His guys in there. And now they are f**ked and he can't even make it past a lap.”

Facing the media just a few days later ahead of Round 8 for the 2023 MotoGP season at Assen, Miller was asked specifically if he was referring to Marquez - sat stoically a few feet away - in his comments. 

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He admitted his words were targeted at the Spaniard, but insists they was also aimed at other riders before then doubling down by suggesting they consider the ‘health of the sport’ 

“I was asked a follow up question after my statement about a mob of riders, it was not only Marc, but everybody said it was about Marc… I said it about Marc but I said it about a magnitude of riders because it is a lot at the moment. 

“Now I understand he is having a difficult moment and it’s not easy, but for the sport, the health of the sport and the manufacturers, nobody wants to hear that all the time.”

Returning to the scene of his shock maiden victory on the Marc VDS Honda in 2016, Miller is enjoying a positive first year with KTM having switched from Ducati over the winter. 

Scoring his first full length podium with the manufacturer in the Spanish MotoGP, Miller has also achieved two Sprint Race podiums to place him seventh overall after seven rounds.