Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 278: Portimão MotoGP - Quartararo Masters The Yamaha, While Honda Struggles

By PPP Team |

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.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 273: Portimão Preview, And Dennis Noyes Tells Tall Tales Of The Early Days

By PPP Team |

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.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 272: SBK Is Back - Steve And Gordo On World Superbikes From Aragon

By PPP Team |

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.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 271: The New And Old Kings Of COTA

By PPP Team |

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.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 270: A Surprise New Winner In Argentina

By PPP Team |

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.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 268: Mandalika Madness - Tarmac, Rain, And Highsides

By PPP Team |

In this week's episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast, we look back at the inaugural MotoGP race at the Mandalika International Street Circuit in Indonesia. Adam Wheeler, Steve English, David Emmett, and on a very poor connection from Jakarta airport, Neil Morrison review a drama-filled weekend at Mandalika.

We start off with a discussion of how the rain that came down saved the GP, and stopped the track from falling apart. We go on to talk about the rear tire which Michelin brought, which made life very difficult for some, and ask whether it contributed to Marc Marquez' crash. We examine that crash, and ask what effect it will have on the rest of the season - this was recorded before the announcement that Marquez had suffered another bout of diplopia as a result of the crash. And we talk about Miguel Oliveira's remarkable victory in Indonesia, before finishing up with our winners and losers.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 267: The Stats Man - Martin Raines Talks MotoGP History In Numbers

By PPP Team |

The Paddock Pass Podcast has a very special guest this episode. The father of MotoGP statistics, Dr Martin Raines joins Adam Wheeler, David Emmett, and Steve English to talk about the history of grand prix motorcycle racing, crunching the numbers, and much more. He talks about how he started collecting race statistics, the challenges of digging up historical records of past races, and his own history in the sport.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 265: Looking Ahead To 2022

By PPP Team |

With the 2022 MotoGP season just days from kicking off, Steve English, Neil Morrison, Adam Wheeler, and David Emmett gaze into their crystal balls to take a guess at what to expect this year. We take on a range of subject both serious and a lot less serious, and give our opinions on the ups and downs of 2022.

We start off with our predictions for who will win the 2022 championships in all three classes, with a surprising lack of support for the reigning champion. Then we discuss what or who we think will be our biggest surprise of the year, from riders to teams to manufacturers. We make our predictions for rookie of the year, before turning to a more lighter side of things. We give our opinions on the best and worst liveries of the 2022 season, and we predict what will the least surprising and most predictable development or pattern for this year.