Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 42: Breaking Down The Valencia & Jerez Tests

By PPP Team |

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.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 41: Wrapping Up The Flyaways - PI & Sepang

By PPP Team |

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. 

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 40: Marquez Wraps It Up Early

By PPP Team |

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.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 39: Will We See A Ninth Winner?

By PPP Team |

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. 

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 28: And Dani Makes It Eight

By PPP Team |

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.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 37: Viñales Makes it Seven Winners in Seven Races

By PPP Team |

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.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 36: History in the Making at Brno

By PPP Team |

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.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 35: Red Rockets Flying at the Red Bull Ring

By PPP Team |

So much happened during the return of Grand Prix motorcycle racing at the Red Bull Ring in Austria that it took a mighty crew of four Paddock Pass Podcasters to cover it all. Ducati's return to winning ways, Jorge Lorenzo's return to form, Marc Marquez' maturity, ride throughs, dashboard messages: all this and more were topics for discussion between Roadracing World's Neil Morrison, top snapper Tony Goldsmith, MotoMatters.com's own photographer extraordinaire Scott Jones, and David Emmett.

From a hotel room in Vienna, where we assembled to record the lastest episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast, we talk at length about the circuit in Spielberg, and its outstanding facilities. Scott Jones and Tony Goldsmith give their unique perspective as photographers on the spectacular setting of the track, comparing it favorably to many other circuits. We also discuss the safety issues at the circuit, and what MotoGP expects to be done to help address them.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 34 - MotoGP Mid-Season Review

By PPP Team |

It is a time for mid-season reviews. In addition to our own series of reviews looking at how the various riders have fared in the first half of the year, Steve English, Neil Morrison and Asphalt & Rubber's Jensen Beeler got together to discuss the first half of 2016 for the latest episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast.

Over the course of an hour and a half, Steve, Neil and Jensen go over the riders, the factories, and the teams, and how they have held up during the first nine races of 2016.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 33: Reviewing the Sachsenring, and the Austria MotoGP Test

By PPP Team |

The latest episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast features Neil Morrison of Roadracing World and Crash.net and MotoMatters.com's own David Emmett taking a long look back at the Sachsenring, and discussing the events of MotoGP test in Austria. 

We kick off with a long look at the wet weather race in Germany, and discuss the concerns Michelin had ahead of the weekend. On a drying track, tire choice and pit strategy became key, and Neil and David discuss who benefited and who didn't. They also take a look at the improving form of both Cal Crutchlow and Scott Redding, and ask whether the 2016 MotoGP championship is already over.