Paddock Pass Podcast

By popular demand of our Patreon supporters Simon Crafar joins on this week's podcast to explain his role as the Chairman of the FIM Stewards Panel for MotoGP. If you'd like to support the podcast check out patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast. The 500GP race winner has built a reputation within the paddock as a rider, an engineer, a commentator and now as an FIM Steward. When Neil sat down with Simon he explained the strengths of each member of his team and how they make decisions based on numerous factors. This interview is a fascinating insight into what can be one of the most controversial roles in the sport and how Simon has approached the job!

Part 2 of our WorldSBK season review! Steve and Gordo are once again joined by Alex Raby to break down the WorldSBK season. In Part 2 of our review we look at Alvaro Bautista's form, Locatelli picking up his first win, Bimota's return to WorldSBK and much more. The debate for our Top 5 heated up so let us know your thoughts on who makes your list!

WIth another year is in the books for the Paddock Pass Podcast covering the Superbike World Championship Steve and Gordo are joined by Alex Raby to break down the campaign that saw Toprak Razgatlioglu sign off his Superbike career as a triple champion before finally getting his MotoGP chance. Nicolo Bulega impressed everyone from the start of the season and we look at the Italian's performance to become Ducati's team leader. His performance was such that he effectively relegated Alvaro Bautista to a Bologna after thought. With Toprak moving on, Bulega having had a chance in MotoGP and Jonathan Rea retiring from full-time racing what does the future hold for WorldSBK and how is the overall health of the series? Later in the week we'll have Part 2 of our WorldSBK season review where we'll look at some of the other performers through the season and debate our Top 5 riders of the season

That’s it! 2025 MotoGP finally reaches the flag but not before Adam, David and Neil are able to get through the talking points and highlights of Round 22 at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit. Another Italian victory but Moto2 also breaks new ground. Our ‘Moments’, ‘Hire and Fires’ and ‘Grades’ as Dave also starts to salivate at the prospect of the first 2026 test. Thanks to Renthal Street for supporting the podcast. Head to the Renthal website for handlebars, sprockets, chains, and more, using the Fit Your Bike tool. www.renthal.com/road/ Thanks also Pole Position Travel. Go to the Pole Position website to book a package to visit a MotoGP or WorldSBK round, Use code PPOD25X for a discount. www.polepositiontravel.com Sign up for for exclusive content from the MotoGP and WorldSBK paddocks https://patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast

Hello Valencia. It’s good to be back. Neil, David and Adam pick up the mics on the eve of the twenty-second and last Grand Prix of the year (don’t forget the test!) to run the rule on the Ricardo Tormo. They are also joined in Spain by MotoGP journo Don, Mat Oxley, who chats about his new book on Marc Marquez.

The clock is now ticking on the final days and hours of the 2025 MotoGP season so Adam, David and Neil go through the big talking points (plus our usual categories and listener questions) from the Media Centre at the Algarve International Circuit. Is Aprilia the best bike on the grid now, or just at some tracks? How Dani Pedrosa has helped Pedro Acosta. What KTM needs to make the next step. Why Diogo Moreira is ready for MotoGP. Plus Adam and David argue about radios, and Neil wishes we didn't have so many power cuts. Thanks to Renthal Street for supporting the podcast. Head to the Renthal website for handlebars, sprockets, chains, and more, using the Fit Your Bike tool. www.renthal.com/road/ Thanks also Pole Position Travel. Go to the Pole Position website to book a package to visit a MotoGP or WorldSBK round, Use code PPOD25X for a discount. www.polepositiontravel.com Sign up for for exclusive content from the MotoGP and WorldSBK paddocks https://patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast

Adam and Neil welcome back the force-of-nature that is David Emmett to the MotoGP Media Centre and the motomatters scribe is full of beans for the first day of the Portuguese Grand Prix. The guys discuss HRC’s arrival to concessions status, riders’ thoughts on the Algarve International Circuit and the Sepang aftermath plus other topics

The full crew get on the mics to chew through three main topics surrounding MotoGP (and a bit of WorldSBK this week) as well as look ahead to the penultimate round of 2025 at the Algarve International Circuit. Can Pedro Acosta finally get his first win? Should they bring back warm up for Moto2 and Moto3? Can Nicolo Bulega score points in Portimao? Can WorldSBK riders succeed in MotoGP, and what is the history? Predictions? Win/Lose? Plus more… Thanks to Renthal Street for supporting the pod https://www.renthal.com/road/ Thanks also Pole Position Travel. They still have a couple of their Deluxe Packages available for the Valencia GP. Book fast! https://www.polepositiontravel.com/motogp/valencia/2025/packages

Adam and Neil are on the ground in Malaysia and call-up Dave to chew through some of the heroics and hiccups of the 20th round of the season. After discussing the shocking start to the day with the Moto3 accident the guys also speak about Alex Marquez’s third win, Pecco’s puncture, KTM’s bounceback and the ongoing Honda revival. Plus, ‘Moments’, ‘Hire & Fires’ and ‘Grades’.

Rain, rain, rain. A soggy day at the Sepang International Circuit didn’t quite dampen the enthusiasm for the 20th Grand Prix of the year. Adam and Neil are joined by the charm of Renita Vermeulen to talk about what was said and heard on Thursday as well as Australian GP residue.

As the final round of the WorldSBK dawned it seemed like a foregone conclusion. There was little doubt that Toprak Razgatlioglu would be crowned for a third time as champion. Nicolo Bulega had proven to be an admirable rival but ultimately Toprak would have too much for his rival...that was the plan at least! The reality was quite different and ultimately Sunday's Superbike action was the flashpoint of the season. Steve English and Gordon Ritchie guide you through the hows and whys of Spanish Round of WorldSBK

Surprising, riveting, overdue? The 35th Australian Grand Prix provided another notable episode of MotoGP. Adam and Dave down another coffee and call Neil who’s wrapped up against the Phillip Island winds to talk about round nineteen of the season.

No Marquez, no Martin, no Maverick but arguably the most inviting and open palette for the Australian Grand Prix this weekend. Apart from the weather. Adam, David and Neil (on the ground in Victoria) record their thoughts and opinions in the wake of the rider debriefs and ongoings at ‘PI’ on Thursday.

After a busy weekend in Portugal Steve and Gordo break down the action from Estoril. As usual in 2025 Toprak Razgatlioglu and Nicolo Bulega shared the spoils. The duo will bring their title fight down to the final round of the year this weekend at Jerez and we look at how on Sunday it seemed that everyone had their own narrative to push... There was lots to talk about. Hard racing, weight ballast petitions, the rider and crew chief market and much more. Over the course of an hour we still couldn't cover all the news so check out Patreon.com/PaddockPassPodcast for our Paddock Notes show on Thursday to hear even more from inside the WorldSBK paddock

Favourite Phillip Island memories, the state of MotoGP without Marc Marquez (who can possible win in Australia?), thoughts on the series’ best racetrack and more as Adam, David and Neil anticipate round 19 of 2025.

If you love a surprise, the Indonesian MotoGP round at Mandalika was the grand prix weekend for you. A rookie winner, the favourite taking the champion out, and the man who dominated Motegi sinking without a trace. Why did Mandalika turn out this way? Neil, Steve, and David talk you through a tricky track, Fermin Aldeguer's triumph, Marco Bezzecchi's moment of madness, Pecco Bagnaia's depths of despair and much more.

Neil and David are joined by MotoGP commentator and presenter Louis Suddaby, who dials in from the media centre at the Pertamina Mandalika Circuit, to talk through the morning after the weekend before. What's Pecco Bagnaia's strategy for this weekend now that he's proven his mettle once more? Where will newly crowned champion Marc Marquez find his motivation now the title is wrapped up? Is Miguel Oliveira's MotoGP future really over even if he's off to WorldSBK in 2026? All these questions are discussed plus insights on the Fabios (Quartararo and Di Giannantonio) and our ones to watch this weekend.

On today's WorldSBK show we'll review the action from the Aragon Round of WorldSBK where the wins were split but the action was intense! Toprak Razgatlioglu and Nicolo Bulega have been the story of the season but what do Steve and Gordo think of their title battle? Is it exciting or inevitable? Both of our Paddock Insiders weight in on the topic while also looking forward to future regulations and whether this weekend showed us the impact of harder tyres on the series. Having made his full-time debut in at Kyalami in 1999 this weekend also marked Gordo's 750th WorldSBK race start. It's a great achievement and one that the paddock were keen to mark. Alex Lowes called Gordo a "legend" for all that he's achieved while Gordo questioned Steve's sanity to have taken the time to count up his starts! On Sunday the debriefs Jonathan Rea and Lowes handed Gordo a replica helmet signed by the grid to mark the occassion and the Scotsman was, for the first time, lost for words!

Ducati delight. 2025 is officially sealed and the narrative locked. But the race order and podium finishers might surprise a few. Adam, David and Neil offer their thoughts on the Japanese GP, the milestone and the moments.

Adam, David and Neil are European based for round seventeen of 2025 MotoGP but still have opinions and news after the first day of media work and debriefs in Japan. Join the crew on Patreon for further daily shows on Friday and Saturday.

Konnichiwa Motegi! MotoGP goes overseas for the next stint of the 2025 calendar with Japan up first. Adam, David and Neil talk about their favourite Japanese GP riders and memories, offer predictions for round 17 of 22 and also talk to Gresini’s Sporting Director Michele Masini about Alex Marquez and a sterling 2025 for the team. Pic by Polarity Photo

Adam and Neil (plus Dani, Freddie and Kevin) comment on MotoGP’s freshly installed Hall of Fame; launched with a swish ceremony in Rimini last week. We discuss the criteria, the need, and the purposes of the new initiative as well as hear from a few of the ‘Famers themselves.

A war of brands and limits pushed at a sunny and packed Misano. Adam, David and Neil raise microphones in the media centre at MWC to talk about the approaching finale of a startling (if expected) comeback narrative in 2025 but also a few other tasty observations in San Marino.

There will be a new howl in MotoGP this weekend for round sixteen and the San Marino Grand Prix. Yamaha at least unveiled their V4 M1, and the Japanese firm’s big bid to return to glory will appear for the first time at the circuit where they won the title in 2021. Bastianini and MotoE news also discussed as Adam and Neil are at last joined by a tardy David for the first podcast of the meeting.

Magny-Cours has always been a favourite track for Toprak Razgatlioglu but having dominated the French Round of WorldSBK the Turkish star now has one hand on his third World Championship. Nicolo Bulega was his closest challenger but in reality it wasn't close last weekend. A triple podium for Bimota, Jonathan Rea in the podium fight, new riders on the way...there's a lot to talk about in WorldSBK!

They did it again. Some tangible tension and some incident and accident to chat about this evening as Adam, David and Neil go through their views and opinions on the Catalan Grand Prix. Ratings, ‘Hire and Fire’, ‘Moments’ from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and more.

The WorldSBK paddock has plenty to discuss in France. Whether it's Jonathan Rea's retirement, Danilo Petrucci to BMW or the rest of the rider market. There's also what happens with engineers next year and the chance to sit down with Rea to talk about his career and the relationships he's built up over the years. Alex Lowes was teammate to Rea at Kawasaki and he joins to talk about what made JR special while Toprak Razgatlioglu talks about why he's always looked up to Rea....

Adam, David and Neil are joined by friend and (incredibly well informed) journalist Thomas Baujard to talk about the themes emerging from the first day of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Is Marc Marquez vulnerable? What were riders saying about their new contracts? Yamaha’s V4 chatter, Barcelona bitumen and more predictions.

A full squad online to chat recent topics of 2025 MotoGP and to preview the Catalan Grand Prix: round 15 of 22 in the current series. We also talk to Trackhouse Racing’s Team Principal Davide Brivio about his riders and the changing landscape for independent outfits. Pic by Trackhouse Racing.

Jonathan Rea will leave a legacy unlike any other when he hangs up his helmet after the final round of the 2025 WorldSBK season. The six times World Champion confirmed his decision today and Steve and Gordo break down the career he's had and what it means for the Superbike World Championship

Balaton Park: a winner? We cast our thoughts from the new circuit on the fourteenth round of 2025 MotoGP, the red strain of the current series, two emerging challengers (perhaps) and more as the world championship pushes out of another double-header

Welcome to Balaton Park! The first Hungarian Grand Prix since 1992 is inching closer and Adam and Neil have been dodging rainfall in the brand new paddock close to Balaton Lake. Pecco’s diplomacy, Marc’s chances, Miller’s frustration, Moto2 mover gossip and an exclusive talk with Dorna CCO Dan Rossomondo about the new American TV outlet. Have a Llsten! And then join us on Patreon for Friday and Saturday shows.

The train rolls on for one rider, one team, one brand in 2025 MotoGP but Austria delivered a few talking points as well as the welcome sight of MotoGP cranked up to full pelt after the summer break (also hard on the anchors at one of the most demanding tracks for braking). Adam, David and Neil get on the mics from the Red Bull Ring Media Centre to go through the categories and we also speak to Gresini and Red Bull KTM in post-GP pitlane

Adam, David and Neil are joined by Austrian journalist Markus Zörweg at a stuffy Red Bull Ring to dissect the topics and comments of Thursday’s activities for round 13 of 2025 MotoGP. Injuries, Stability Control, the forthcoming Balaton Park & crowd expectations in Spielberg. Tuck in. Pic by Polarity Photo

The guys are joined by TV Producer Alannah Fellows as she talks about the effort behind-the-scenes to get MotoGP live on the screen. The hassles, the satisfaction, the near-misses and the expertise. We also preview the return to action for 2025 and the trip to the fearsome Red Bull Ring: will the Marc Marquez streak continue unabashed? Pic by Polarity Photo.

A slightly belated WorldSBK show from Round 8 of the season saw two thirds of the campaign in the books and the summer break begin. What did Steve and Gordo think of the Balaton Park Circuit in Hungary? What's happening with the rider market? Who's the biggest winner, loser and surprise of 2025? We answer all these questions!

The summer break offers up a great moment to reflect of the 2025 MotoGP season so far: can anyone challenge Marc Marquez in the 2nd half of the year? Who's been the big disappointment? And the surprise? Plus, we have an exclusive interview with Suzuka 8 Hour winner Johann Zarco. Pic by LCR Honda.

Bless you Brno. Was the return to Czechia a memorable one for 2025 MotoGP? The song remained the same but the stage was significantly different. Adam, David and Neil dissect the highlights of what they saw and heard on the ground at Brno: Marquez brilliance, Aprilia’s boom, KTM’s resurgence. Also, our ‘Hire and Fire’ and we also hear from Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola.

MotoGP is back at Brno, and Jorge Martin is back in MotoGP, and at long last, he can answer all those questions we have been wanting to ask him. Why did he want to leave Aprilia? What changed his mind to make him stay? Does he have any regrets about the whole thing? Neil and David sit down after a special press conference with the world champion and talk you through everything that happened.

The UK Round of WorldSBK saw lots for Steve and Gordo to dig into! Whether it was the rider market for 2026, weight penalties for Bautista or Scott Redding's future Donington Park gave plenty to look over and assess. Toprak Razgatlioglu retook the title lead but this one looks set to go right to to the wire...

Finally, a steady weather day at Sachsenring for another barrage on the statistics by a certain Catalan Ducati star. Why so many crashes though? Who deserves more credit? Our ‘Hire and Fire’ picks, your questions and more

Adam, David and Neil bring an update on news and opinions from Sachsenring after the first day of set-up and media work in Germany: Alex Marquez and Luca Marini’s fitness, Yamaha’s V4, looking ahead to Brno, wary of weather and some gossip

The full Paddock Pass Podcast crew share their thoughts and memories of the Sachsenring, home of the German Grand Prix since 1998, and debate who might finish second on Sunday. Dorna Sports’ Global Marketing Director, Kelly Brittain, also makes her PPP debut to talk about her experience in F1, how MotoGP could grow, Liberty Media and why we might not be seeing a ‘Ride to Survive’.

A sixth ‘set’ for MM93 and a first win on the hallowed ground of the TT Circuit Assen since 2018. Adam, David and Neil get on the mics from the Media Centre at the track to get shouty and go through their categories and observations from the tenth round of 2025 MotoGP.

Adam, David and Neil are joined on the microphones by former multi Dutch TT Grand Prix podium finisher Wilco Zeelenberg as the guys talk about the Assen centennial, memories, the track, Jorge Lorenzo’s collarbone and more

Adam, David and Neil connect via the Mugello Media Centre to chop-up their opinions and takes on the ninth round of MotoGP. Moments, Flavours, Hire/Fires, the Marqui, Pecco’s purgatory and more

Paddock Notes: Mugello Thursday - Embrace the colour by Apex Radio Collective

Toprak Razgatlioglu was the name on everyone's lips in the build-up to Misano. The sixth round of the season saw WorldSBK reach the halfway point of the campaign and after a Toprak Triple there are now just nine points between him and Nicolo Bulega. Both could be lining up on a MotoGP grid together in the future and Steve and Gordo dive into that and all the other news from the WorldSBK paddock

Pace, pizza & panache: it can only be time for Mugello and the Italian Grand Prix. Adam, David and Neil talk about the Autodromo, some MotoGP news and views and also speak exclusively to HRC’s Joan Mir.

Adam, David and Neil convene for a special podcast episode between Grands Prix to chat about Adam’s book: ‘Motorcycle Grand Prix - Insider Stories…’: origins, reasons, best-and-worsts and more. Get the title through any decent bookshop or online with a Kindle/digitally.