Paddock Pass Podcast

The Paddock Pass Podcast is back! After a hiatus over the winter break, Steve English and David Emmett get together to go over the latest news from testing, now that bikes are back on track.

The first subject is Sepang, where the MotoGP grid had reassembled for the first test of 2017. We go over the results, debate how strong Marc Marquez is, whether Maverick Viñales can pose a real threat for the title, ponder the strength of Valentino Rossi on the Yamaha, discuss how strong Jorge Lorenzo will be on the Ducati, and spend a few words on the exceptionally strong field of rookies who join MotoGP this season.

While Steve English, Neil Morrison and David Emmett were in Barcelona to cover the Superprestigio indoor dirt track race, the three Paddock Pass Podcast regulars seized the opportunity to sit down for a look back at the 2016 MotoGP season. Sat in the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, we ran through our highs, lows and surprises of 2016.

With most of the Paddock Pass Podcast crew gathered in Barcelona for the Superprestigio dirt track race, we used the opportunity to record a couple of shows. The first show covers the reason we were all in Barcelona in the first place: the fourth edition of the Barcelona Superprestigio, which featured another clash between MotoGP champion Marc Marquez and former AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National champion Brad Baker. This time, it was Marquez who came out on top, tying the series 2-2, and setting up a sequel for next year.

After an extend hiatus due to the practical difficulties of trying to synchronize different schedules, the Paddock Pass Podcast is back. In the latest episode, Neil Morrison and David Emmett join Steve English to talk about the end of the 2016 MotoGP season and the start of 2017.

We touch briefly on the Valencia race, before getting into the detail of what we had all been waiting for throughout the weekend: what  all the different riders switching manufacturers looked like on their new steeds. There was a lot to cover, with talk of both the Valencia and Jerez tests.

The latest episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast takes a long look back at the last two of the flyaways. Neil Morrison and David Emmett have a long chat about the exciting events at Phillip Island and Sepang. 

With the weather being a real factor in both Australia and Malaysia, we talk about how that affected the racing, and celebrate two unexpected winners. We discuss Cal Crutchlow's superb victory in Australia, and Andrea Dovizioso's controlled win at Sepang, managing the race and the conditions to perfection. 

With the Paddock Pass Podcasters spread across the globe, the latest episode comes with a skeleton crew. MotoMatters.com's David Emmett is joined by our photographer Scott Jones of Photo.GP. Scott is in Thailand, having just returned from his first visit to Motegi.

Scott and David have plenty to talk about. As it was Scott's first visit to Japan, he talks about the challenges of visiting a track for the first time, and his impressions of the track. He was in for a surprise, as everyone was - not least Marc Marquez - as Marquez managed to wrap up the title at his first attempt. Scott and David talk about the transformation of Marquez this year, and how he won the 2016 title.

With illness preventing recording in the week after Aragon, Steve English, Neil Morrison and David Emmett got together this weekend to take a look back at Aragon and Magny-Cours and a look ahead to the flyaways.

As ever, we covered a lot of ground. Kicking off with a discussion of whether Marc Marquez has already done enough to wrap up the 2016 MotoGP title, and whether he will come under any threat from the Movistar Yamaha team. We also consider the team dynamics inside the factory Yamaha squad, and weigh up whether Valentino Rossi or Jorge Lorenzo will take second place in the championship. 

Another MotoGP race, another winner. The Misano round of MotoGP had plenty to talk about, so MotoMatters.com's own David Emmett joined Neil Morrison to mull over the events of the weekend. 

Naturally, we start off with Dani Pedrosa's incredible victory, and discuss in-depth how it came about. We talk about where Pedrosa turned around his season, and how conditions affected his race. We also touch on the issue of crew chiefs, and address rumors that Pedrosa is to have a new one for next season.

After a scintillating round of MotoGP at Silverstone, the Paddock Pass Podcast crew got together to discuss the momentous events in all three classes. Scott Jones of PhotoGP leads the conversation, with Neil Morrison and Steve English joining MotoMatters' own David Emmett.

Silverstone left us with a lot of ground to cover. The main focus of the conversation is of course Maverick Viñales' first win, how it happened and what it means for Suzuki. We take a quick glance at the progress Suzuki has made in just two short years since rejoining the class. 

We also talk about Cal Crutchlow's resurgence. Where has his newfound pace come from? Confidence, or the calmness that comes with being a new father? Of course there is discussion of the fearsome battle between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez, and what happened to Jorge Lorenzo. And we go over the chances of Marquez being denied the championship.

The Brno round of MotoGP was one for the history books, and so Neil Morrison, Scott Jones and David Emmett got together to discuss the events of Brno in the latest episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast.

There was a lot to talk about. Obviously, we take a look at Cal Crutchlow's win, and how making the right choice of tires helped make the difference. That tire choice proved to be crucial, and we give our opinions on what happened to the soft wet tires of the various protagonists, and who, if anyone, is to blame. We celebrate those who chose wisely, but also the riders such as Marc Marquez and Hector Barbera who nursed the soft wet tires home.