With testing at Qatar done and (quite literally) dusted, the Paddock Pass Podcast crew gathered to assess preseason testing and look ahead to the start of the 2021 MotoGP season.

Naturally, there was a lot to get through, and Steve English, Adam Wheeler, and David Emmett kicked the podcast off with a discussion of why MotoGP is testing in Qatar and whether it was a good place to test a MotoGP machine. Then we talked about Marc Marquez riding at Barcelona, and whether that alters our sense of when he will return to racing.

We run through the various factories. How will Pol Espargaro get on at Honda? What are we to make of Yamaha, and their new chassis? Is Jack Miller a world champion in waiting, and what about Pecco Bagnaia? Why have we heard so little of Suzuki? Does KTM's bad test at Qatar mean they are in for a tough season? And does Aleix Espargaro's speed mean that Aprilia have arrived at last?

We finish up with a look at political, personal, and moral aspects of the decision of the Qatar Government to give vaccines to the MotoGP paddock. Is accepting it the right choice? Is it just a case of sportswashing?

For Paddock Pass Podcast patrons, there is a Patreon special in which we give our picks for the MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3 championships, and argue over why each other's choices are terrible.

If you don't want to miss out on these episodes as they are released, make sure you follow The Paddock Pass Podcast on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Soundcloud. We even have an RSS feed for you. If you do use Apple Podcasts, please rate the show and leave a review, as this helps other MotoGP fans find it.

Make sure to like and suscribe to the Paddock Pass Podcast YouTube channel, where we will be posting various specials such as rider interviews.

We now also have a Patreon, where you can support the show financially, and get access to exclusive content, such as rider interviews, debriefs, and more. Enjoy the show!