Paddock Pass Podcast

With the news that Jack Miller has signed with Ducati, the Paddock Pass Podcast crew gathered together to discuss how the rider markets for both MotoGP and WorldSBK are playing out in the time of COVID-19. Steve English, Neil Morrison, and David Emmett go over the options, and what Miller's signing might mean for the rest of the grid.

There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to the role of the crew chief, what their job is, and what role the rider plays in managing the bike. In the latest episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast, Steve English and David Emmett discuss the many things they have learned about the role from talking to crew chiefs about their role.

It is a long and rambling discussion, with Steve and David drawing on their long years in the paddock, both in MotoGP and in WorldSBK, and using two articles as a basis for discussion. Steve's piece on the Ten Kate WorldSBK team, featuring interviews with Loris Baz and his crew chief Mick Shanley, and the article Peter Bom wrote on MotoMatters.com about the role of chassis setup software, and how it has eased the workload of engineers.

Steve and David discuss the work that goes on in the run up to a race weekend, to prepare for a race. They talk about how riders and teams use time in free practice to find the right setup for the race, and compare the different approaches between the MotoGP and WorldSBK paddocks. They discuss what teams do differently during practice and the race, and what happens after the race.

This week's episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast, we take a break from our looks back at seasons past to get back up to date with recent developments. Since Dorna announced that MotoGP is to resume at Jerez on July 19th, with two back-to-back races at the circuit, followed by a WorldSBK round at the track, Neil Morrison, Jensen Beeler, and David Emmett got together to discuss where things stand right now, and what might lie ahead.

In the second part of our look back at the historic 2015 MotoGP season, Neil Morrison, Steve English, and David Emmett review the dramatic events of the second half of that year. The period from the German GP at the Sachsenring through to Phillip Island saw some of the most eventful and thrilling races MotoGP has ever seen.

We start off discussing how the momentum of the season swayed back and forth between Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, with Lorenzo drawing level on points after the race in Brno, before Rossi took back the lead with an outstanding win in the wet at Silverstone.

The Paddock Pass Podcast crew continue their look back at great seasons of the past, and this time, they come to 2015. Remembered mainly for the events at Sepang that year, it is easy to overlook what a wild and fascinating year it truly was. So much happened in 2015, in fact, that we decided to cut it into two parts.

It was the first year of the Paddock Pass Podcast, and the first year that Steve English, Neil Morrison, and David Emmett were assembled in the paddock throughout the year, and so we all have strong memories of that season. We kick off our review with a look back at the run up to the 2015 season, what happened during 2014 and testing for 2015.

The next instalment of our Paddock Pass Podcast racing history review takes a look back at what is arguably the greatest motorcycle race ever held: the 2002 World Superbike finale at Imola. That weekend, Colin Edwards and Troy Bayliss went head-to-head for the World Superbike championship, and Edwards emerged triumphant.

This week's episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast is the first in a new series, in which the team take a look back at classic moments in racing history, be it races, seasons, or other events. We kick this season off with a season that holds a special place in many people's hearts: the 2006 MotoGP season.

There was a lot to get excited about in 2006: Valentino Rossi's surprise fall from utter domination, five different manufacturers getting on the podium, and some of the closest racing we have ever seen, topped off, of course, with Nicky Hayden realizing his dream of winning a Grand Prix world championship.

The COVID-19 outbreak may have put a temporary halt to racing, but it can't stop the Paddock Pass Podcast. With no racing to discuss, we take a different tack this week, as Jensen Beeler, Neil Morrison, Steve English, and David Emmett talk about their background and how they got into racing.

With racing still not happening, we have another special episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast out. This time, Neil Morrison and Steve English get together to talk about one of the great legends of Grand Prix racing, Freddie Spencer.

Steve and Neil go through Spencer's career, and the bikes he rode. They intersperse the podcast with interviews which both Steve and Neil did with the former 500cc and 250cc champion, in which he covers a huge range of subjects. Spencer talks about how he got started in the US, his career in Grand Prix racing, the history of the Honda NS500 and NSR500s, and much more.

It's a special show, in lots of ways, and worth a listen.

There may be no racing going on for the foreseeable future, but there is still plenty to talk about. This week's episode of the Paddck Pass Podcast is a special about Fabio Quartararo. Steve English, Neil Morrison, and David Emmett gather remotely to discuss the past, present, and future of the astonishing French youngster.

We take a look back at how Quartararo entered the Grand Prix paddock, and the expectations placed upon him. We talk about the challenges and pressures he faced, and how he responded to them. And we discuss how he handled his first year in the premier class.