Paddock Pass Podcast

The Austrian Grand Prix is in the books, but the MotoGP race is likely to slip very quickly from memory. Though the display by Pecco Bagnaia was positively imperious, it was a very long way from entertaining. Neil, Adam, and David discuss just how good Bagnaia is, how strong the Ducati GP24 is, and what is making the racing at Austria - once a guarantee of a last-lap thriller - such a snoozer. We also talk about what happened to Marc Marquez on the grid, and why he got such a bad start, the heavy toll on the brakes and front tyres, and whether KTM are close to competing with the Ducatis. Plus our winners and losers of the grand prix.

MotoGP heads to the hills, or rather mountains this week for the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. To go over the history of the track and of the event, what we expect from this year's edition, and what the future holds for motorsport in Austria now that its greatest promoter, Red Bull owner Dieter Mateschitz, has died, we are joined by Austrian journalist Markus Zörweg of Motorsport Magazin. Neil, Adam, David and Markus ask if the Mateschitz legacy can live on without the man himself, wonder whether we will ever get back to the Salzburgring, and examine how the addition of a chicane has changed the racing at Spielberg.

Safely back at home, Neil, Adam, and David go through the latest rumours from Silverstone - just how much is Yamaha working, and will Somkiat Chantra replace Takaaki Nakagami - and then answer questions from Patreon backers. What's up with Silverstone attendance when BSB draws such a big crowd? What is up with KTM? Is Joe Roberts condemned to remain in Moto2? Will we see a proper Ducati battle this year? And what will MotoGP look like in 25 years?

On Sunday evening after the British Grand Prix, Neil, David, and Adam talk over what we saw at Silverstone. We dive into Ducati's dominance, and the difference between the GP24 and the GP23. We discuss how Enea Bastianini is able to manage his tyres so well, how Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia chose to focus on the championship rather than the race, and why the Aprilias did not dominate in the way that we thought. Plus, winners and losers.

With MotoGP about to resume at Silverstone, who better to talk us through it than former World Superbike, BSB champion and TNT Sports presenter Neil Hodgson. Neil joins Neil Morrison and David Emmett to give his assessment of how the first half of 2024 went, and how he sees the rest of the season shaping up. He talks about Silverstone and the many variations of the track he has ridden, and he tells us how he sees the current dearth of British talent in MotoGP. 

Toprak Razgatlioglu continued his charge to the 2024 WorldSBK championship at Most, and with the dust starting to settle, Steve and Gordo discuss what they saw in the Czech Republic. Some of the fallout from Toprak's control of WorldSBK is that current champion Alvaro Bautista's place in the series is looking less and less secure. Steve and Gordo talk through his options, as well as Ducati's for replacing him.

With the MotoGP break nearing its end, Adam, David and Neil discuss the merits of Trackhouse giving Raul Fernandez a new two-year deal. Plus we talk to Trackhouse Racing Team Principal Davide Brivio, on why they extended with Fernandez and who they are looking at for the second seat. We discuss Simon Crafar getting promoted to head of the FIM Stewards Panel, taking the place of Freddie Spencer. And David sits down with Luca Marini to talk about adapting to the Honda and switching to a development mindset.

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Toprak Razgatliolgu continues to amaze in WorldSBK. His success at Donington Park brought scrutiny from his rivals but nothing could stop him making it seven wins in a row. Steve and Gordo are joined by his teammate Michael van der Mark as the Dutchman celebrates his new contract. Fresh from his first Yamaha podium Jonathan Rea also joins us on the pod.

With Neil and Adam interviewing Moto3 star David Alonso, it prompted the question, exactly what makes a special rider? We look at some riders who exceeded expectations, some who fell short, and some we could see were always going to be something exceptional. Was Dani Pedrosa disappointment or did he do better than he had any right to expect? Was Pecco Bagnaia better than expected judging by Moto2 and Moto3? Who do Adam, Neil, and David think were disappointments, and who did far better than they thought?

Fresh back from the Sachsenring (or in the case of David, on his way back), Adam, Neil, Steve and David answer Patreon questions after the German GP. Can Marc Marquez win on the GP23 vs the GP24s? Is MotoGP turning into a Ducati cup? Will the tyre pressure misery ever go away? Why did Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini join KTM, and what can we expect from them? Plus, Neil speaks to Joe Roberts after the race on Sunday.