Although neither Red Bull KTM rider was able to match rookie Pꦗedro Acosta in Saturday’s COTA Sprint, both Jack Miller and Brad Binder at least made substantial progres🏅s from poor starting positions.

Miller rose from eleventh to s♏eventh on the opening lap, then passed Enea Bastianini at the midway stage - only for the factory Ducati rider to retaliate on the final lap.

“Obviously, we wanted a bit more but we had a deജcent start and got into the group,” said Miller who finished 9.2s ൲from race winner Maverick Vinales but within 3s of Acosta in fourth.

“I had a nice battle towards the end but still have to get an understanding of that last sector [oไf the lap]. I could catch-up in some sectors but lost in others. We have a bit of work to do but happy enough.

“Fingers crossed we can get in that position tomorrow and have a crack at 🔥the top five. The pace of the [20 lap] race will be different, [and] so wi🐟ll the strategy.”

Second in the world championship heading into this weeꦰkend, Binder’s COTA hopes suffered a massive setbackꦅ when he crashed in qualifying and was left 17th on the grid.

“A tough Saturday. The big issue this morning was that when I crashed, I had one bike set up♋ in one direction and one bike in another,” Binder explained. “I had to qualify on the one that I didn’t want and with a mix of used and new tyres. I messed up the qualifyi🌺ng and it made the whole day difficult.”

The South African gained six places on the opening lap but progressed no further thereafter. He was ൩t🍒hen passed by former team-mate Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Aprilia) on the last lap.

“Starting from 17th was not ideal but I had a good one and it took me a while to work out the setting I had on the bike and how I could push. Now I understand our potential a🤡nd I think in the race tomorrow I can give it a bit more of a push in the first laps,” Binderꩵ said.

Bastianini has now taken over second in the world championship head🐼ing into Sunday's race🌸.

Team manager Francesco Guidotti added: “Starting from the fourth an♈d six rows we knew it would be tough for the Sprint with littജle time to recover positions.

“Anyhow Jack did his job and brought home some points. Brad recovered some positions but not quite enough. We have another chance tomꦏorrow anꦕd will try to leave this race with something in the pocket.”

While all 𒅌riders used the soft rear tyre for the 10-lap Sprint, the medium rear is a possibility for the full-length grand prix.