Paddock Pass Podcast

A special guest on this week's WorldSBK podcast brings superb insight. Charlie Hiscott, TV producer extraordinaire, has worked in both the WorldSBK and MotoGP paddocks for years, and has been alternating between the two series for the past couple of seasons. So he brings his remarkable knowledge to the already highly informed chat between Steve English and WorldSBK guru Gordon Ritchie, to take a deep dive into the future of Toprak Razgatlioglu.

Charlie adds the view from the MotoGP paddock to the trio's knowledge of where Toprak sits in WorldSBK, to discuss whether the Pata Yamaha rider will make the jump from WorldSBK to MotoGP. They examine the offers he may have, and his reasons for both going to MotoGP and staying in WorldSBK. They also discuss the current state of WorldSBK, the rivalry between Jonathan Rea and Razgatlioglu, what Alvaro Bautista brings to Ducati, why the second seat at Kawasaki is not performing as well as Rea's side of the garage, and what is happening with Honda.

After an intriguing French Grand Prix at Le Mans, the Paddock Pass Podcast crew take a look at how Fabio Quartararo's home race shook out, and why we didn't see a famous French victory at the track. There was plenty for Neil Morrison, Adam Wheeler, and David Emmett to talk about, however, and they start off with what Enea Bastianini's win means for Ducati. Then we discuss which team might replace Suzuki, and if that slot might be left empty, which then leads to a discussion of who from Moto2 could move up to MotoGP.

After that, we talk overtaking, and why passing is becoming something of a lost art in MotoGP. How will that affect the sport just as it loses its biggest star? We also explain how that affected Fabio Quartararo, and how he ended up in a modest fourth place at home, and why Aleix Espargaro is now a serious threat for the title. And of course as always, we end up with our winners and losers.

After waiting for a long time for official word from Suzuki, we could wait no more. So on Wednesday, we finally recorded our episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast taking an in depth look at Suzuki's shock decision to pull out of MotoGP at the end of the season. To help guide us, and make it more than worth the wait, top Japanese MotoGP journalist Akira Nishimura joins Adam Wheeler, David Emmett, and Neil Morrison to give us a Japanese perspective on the decision.

The latest episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast sees Steve English and Gordon Ritchie discuss an eventful Assen round of WorldSBK. They naturally kick off with a debate over who, if anyone, was to blame in the clash between Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu which blew Race 2 wide open. They talk about how Alvaro Bautista has taken charge of the championship, in part thanks to his penalty in the Superpole race and the win in Race 2.

In this week's episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast, Neil Morrison, Adam Wheeler, and David Emmett sit down on Monday morning after Jerez to discuss how the Spanish GP played out. We discuss how it felt to have a proper, almost normal grand prix for a change, and the special atmosphere at Jerez making a very welcome return. We discuss Pecco Bagnaia's outstanding victory, and what it means for the championship. We discuss how technology, and especially braking performance thanks to ride-height devices and aerodynamics, is making passing exceptionally difficult. And we talk about the epic battle for third, as well as a quick look at Moto2 and Moto3. We finish up with our winners and losers.

In the latest episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast, Neil Morrison, Adam Wheeler, and David Emmett report back from Portimão. Fabio Quartararo's imperious victory gave us much food for thought, and we kick off with a discussion of why it is only the Frenchman who seems able to make the Yamaha work, taking a deep dive into Quartararo's complaints vs Morbidelli and Dovizioso's demands for more rear grip. And we ask whether Yamaha have any choice other than to pay Quartararo what he wants.

In this special episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast, we have a very special guest. Veteran American journalist Dennis Noyes joins Neil Morrison, Adam Wheeler, and David Emmett to give some insight into how Dorna came to run MotoGP, and how Spain became such an important part of racing. We start off with a preview of Portimão, and ask whether this marks the start of a return to normality for MotoGP, or whether the unique nature of the Algarve International Circuit means we are in for another surprise this weekend.

Then we get into Dennis Noyes' rich history in racing. Dennis has led a colorful and fascinating life, from racing dirt track on four wheels in the Midwest to teaching English in Central America to staring out of the window of his English class in Barcelona and watching the "traffic light grand prix", and figuring out that motorbikes were pretty cool actually.

After a long layoff, WorldSBK is back at last, and with it, the Paddock Pass Podcasts Voices Of Superbikes, Steve English and Gordon Ritchie. Steve and Gordo take a long look back at WorldSBK preseason and the very first race weekend of the year, at Aragon. They discuss the state of Kawasaki, and Steve sits down for a long and insightful interview with Jonathan Rea. Then Gordo and Steve discuss where Ducati is now, and Alvaro Bautista's return.

Episode 271 of the Paddock Pass Podcast was special in many respects, not least because it was recorded in person, instead of via Zoom. On the Sunday night after the race, Adam Wheeler, Neil Morrison, and David Emmett sat around a kitchen table in a small house just off East 7th Street in Austin to discuss the remarkable and exciting MotoGP race at the Circuit of The Americas.

On Monday after a scintillating MotoGP race in Argentina, Neil Morrison, Adam Wheeler, and David Emmett assembled over Zoom to take a look back at the events of the weekend. We discuss how the late arrival of freight affected the weekend, and how that threw up a surprise winner in Aleix Espargaro. We discuss how much of a turning point this is for Aprilia, and whether Aleix Espargaro or even Maverick Viñales will be able to repeat it.