Paddock Pass Podcast

The 2025 Spanish Grand Prix kicks off the European phase of the calendar so Adam, David and Neil chat Jerez and the current news items around MotoGP. We also have an exclusive interview with VR46 Pertamina Enduro rider Franco Morbidelli as well as the insider scoop on what’s going on with the HRC resurgence.

What a weekend Assen delivered for WorldSBK. A dominant Race 1 seemed to put the writing on the wall but Nicolo Bulega fell foul to two technical failures on Sunday, Toprak Razgatlioglu had tyre troubles while Andrea Locatelli wrapped up his first career win in the Superbike class

Great racing and big stories from the Lusail International Circuit but somewhere there was also the dull hiss of disappointment. Adam and Neil were shivering away in the Qatari Media Centre but were warmed by the presence of Dave for the latest show where we talk Marc, Maverick, Martin, misfortune and mood.

Adam and Neil are joined by renowned journalistic colleague Oriol Puigdemont to talk about some of the main topics that surfaced from the first day of hype and build-up at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix.

Adam, David, Neil and Steve talk about the Lusail International Circuit, Jorge Martin’s return and our predictions for MotoGP round four. Plus, we speak to Pedro Acosta (with your questions!) and his Red Bull KTM Crew Chief Paul Trevathan about 2025 so far. (Photo by Polarity Photo)

There's more and more happening in the WorldSBK paddock so Steve, Gordo and Ivo are on hand to get you up to date! What's happening with Toprak and a move to MotoGP? How good was the racing with Toprak and Bulega? Was Andrea Locatelli the top performer? All these topics and more are covered on Episode 476

All the key thoughts, talking points, dramatic moments (just one or two) from the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas as Adam and Neil call-up David from the COTA Media Centre. Marquez madness and manipulation, Bagnaia’s bounceback, Diggia’s drain and more: Listen-in!

A special first show from the Grand Prix of the Americas with Mat Oxley joining Adam and Neil to talk USGPs, Kenny Roberts and more and we also interview double AMA SX/MX champion Hunter Lawrence (currently coming back from a shoulder injury) about his appreciation of the asphalt.

Adam, David, Neil and Steve talk about the forthcoming round three of 2025 MotoGP and the trip to a resurfaced Circuit of the Americas: Will Marc Marquez keep-up his dominance? Who were the guys’ favourite American riders and where will the next generation come from? More questions and more topics!

Adam, Neil and Steve go through the talking points from the second round of 2025 and the trip back to Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina. Results, incident, implications and more!

David and Neil are joined by Dorna’s roving TV reporter Jack Appleyard who calls in from the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit for a quick update. The boys talk Jorge Martin, track state, Pirelli and more as round two of MotoGP 2025 clicks up a gear. Sign-up on Patreon for similar daily update shows on Friday and Saturday!

A packed show this week as Adam, David and Neil are joined by former WorldSBK race winner and MotoGP rider Eugene Laverty to chat about the new Pirelli tyre deal from 2027, the Argentine Grand Prix, and more and we also have an interview from the Thai Grand Prix where Dorna’s CCO gives us an update on the Liberty Media acquisition, a second USGP, the Fox Sports TV deal and more.

Adam, David, Neil and Steve link up across the time zones to go through the talking points of the Thai Grand Prix and the opening round of 2025 MotoGP. Adam and Neil have been on the ground all week in Buriram and Dave and Steve have been loading up on the coffee: we chat winners, whys, hows and ‘Hire, Fire and Liar’ categories!

Adam and Neil try to find a little quiet in a busy Buriram Media Centre to talk about what was said and what was seen in the very first set-up day of activity for MotoGP 2025.

The opening round of the 2025 WorldSBK season is in the books and Nicolo Bulega dominated the opening weekend. It was a textbook weekend for the Aruba.it Ducati rider but as Steve and Gordo explain it also meant the stories of the weekend were elsewhere. Most of the stories focused on Toprak Razgatlioglu and his BMW. On Sunday evening the reigning champion dropped a bombshell that he would consider quiting the series if changes weren't made. Was it postering? As Gordo explains the weekend wasn't quite as bad as a 20 point haul would indicate. Yamaha confirmed that Augusto Fernandez would replace Jonathan Rea for the next round but how was their race weekend? Bimota are back in WorldSBK and left Australia pleased with their opening gambit. In WorldSSP we assess the race winning debut of Yamaha's new R9 machine and also discuss Tom Booth-Amos' first career win in the Supersport class. WorldSBK is back on track and we're here to cover everything that happens in 2025!

Adam, David and Neil take the bold step of giving their forecasts and guesses for 2025 MotoGP as the season looms rapidly into view this weekend in Thailand. David also speaks to Pecco Bagnaia’s Crew Chief Cristian Gabarrini as the Italian duo go for a third, and face the might of Marquez this year.

Testing is finished and now it's time for the lights to go out and start the WorldSBK season. On Episode 468 Steve, Gordo and Ivo get you ready for the campaign with updates on the Ducati, a discussion about how things have changed for BMW and Toprak. With Bimota rejoining the WorldSBK we're joined by Steve Guttridge, Race Planning Manager for Kawasaki Motors Europe, to explain how the project came together. Steve gives us an update on what it means for Provec Racing and Manuel Puccetti's race team. The WorldSBK season is now just over 24 hours from starting and we're ready to bring all the latest news from inside the paddock in what should be an exciting season.

Adam, David and Neil discuss the events of the second and final MotoGP pre-season test and ponder on the potential first winner of the year, whether Ducati have stagnated, is Marco Bezzecchi ‘back’, the need for more testing (?), are Honda waking up and more bench-racing. Thanks to Renthal.com (get some mods for your streetbike) and Pole Position Travel. (Photo by motogp.com)

Adam, David and Neil are guided by Steve around the topics of official MotoGP launches and a range of special categories in the wake of the Sepang test and on the eve of the final two days of prep work this pre-season.

As Steve and Gordo get ready to pack their bags for Round 1 in Phillip Island they made sure to leave the mics until last so that they can get you all the latest news from the WorldSBK paddock. Whether it's bike launches or regulation changes there's been a lot to talk about since the Jerez and Portimao Tests and with the WorldSBK paddock now en-route to Australia the season is coming at us fast.

Adam and Neil spoil some ‘alone time’ for Dave in his Malaysian hotel room with reactions from the ground at the Sepang International Circuit and for what was a crashy and dramatic first day of MotoGP this year. Causes, takes, aftermath. It’s all here.

Adam, David and Neil chat about the latest news in MotoGP this week but then hand the reins to Dave who has a long chat with former Yamaha MotoGP honcho Lin Jarvis on his hefty career in the sport and with the brand. Rossi? Lorenzo? 2015? Best rider he worked with? Riders he missed out on signing? Tuck in

Adam, David and Neil chat dream teams and opinions after being at the Ducati Lenovo team presentation in Italy (and as Steve grabs WorldSBK content at Jerez). Neil also wades into a chat with HRC Team honcho Alberto Puig.

Adam, David and Neil congregate in a quiet space inside the Sky TV studios in east Milan to talk about what they have seen (and heard) at the launch of the new Aprilia MotoGP line-up for 2025, including that fancy #1.

The Paddock Pass Podcast is back for 2025 and we’re kicking off our WorldSBK coverage with a look at what we’re excited by for the coming season. Once again this year Steve English, Gordon Ritchie and Speedweek.com’s Ivo Schutzbach are our boots on the ground for the Superbike World Championship and they’re ready to report on another campaign. For Episode 460 we’re looking at the topics that are interesting us the most ahead of the new season. - What has changed for BMW as Toprak Razgatlioglu looks to defend his title? - Can Alvaro Bautista recover from a tough season? - Bimota are back in WorldSBK but waht can we expect from them? - Will a return to Ducati machinery reinvigorate Scott Redding? - Will this be the last year of Jonathan Rea’s career? WorldSBK has seen some great racing in recent years but for the Paddock Pass Podcast we’re ready for another season with in-depth analysis from inside the paddock as our team of insider’s bring you all the latest news and informed opinion from the people that matter Join us for special and exclusive content on Patreon. Become a Paddock Insider for just 10 dollars a month: www.patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast Find us here: twitter.com/PaddockPassPod

Adam, David, Neil and Steve cast their votes and opinions for the best MotoGP riders of 2024 as well as their favourites of all-time Join us for special and exclusive content on Patreon. Become a Paddock Insider for just 10 dollars a month: https://www.patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast Find us here: https://twitter.com/PaddockPassPod

Adam, David, Neil and Steve get all vocal on their hits and misses, favourites moments, annoyances and overall impressions of MotoGP in 2024. Agree? Disagree? Think we’re mad? Join us for special and exclusive content on Patreon. Become a Paddock Insider for just 10 dollars a month: https://www.patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast Find us here: https://twitter.com/PaddockPassPod

Steve and Gordo get you all the latest news from the WorldSBK paddock as well as looking back on the 2024 season. We give you our top five riders of the year, our biggest disappointments and our surprising moments. Join us for special and exclusive content on Patreon. Become a Paddock Insider for just 10 dollars a month: www.patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast.

It’s the off-season, so time to get silly, and Adam, David, Neil and Steve go over their 2025 ‘takes’ based on what we saw, heard and learnt at the Barcelona test. We also discuss the KTM MotoGP predicament. Plus we have an exclusive interview with Aprilia factory teammates Maverick Viñlaes and Aleix Espargaro in which they talk braking in MotoGP. Thanks to Brembo for their help with this chat. Join us for special and exclusive content on Patreon. Become a Paddock Insider for just 10 dollars a month: https://www.patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast. Pic thanks to motogp.com

Adam, David and Steve rattle through your questions in the wake of the 2024 MotoGP season closer in Barcelona, reveal who won the Alpinestars Paddock Pass Podcast Fantasy League and talk to a special guest: MotoGP Senior Brand Manager Nuria Garcia about how and why MotoGP is evolving the brand, the new logo and reimagining the future.

Adam and Neil chat about Pecco perfection, Martinating, Marquez Mode, Winners and Losers, talking points, celebrations and lament Dave’s illness at Barcelona for the last Sunday race wrap of 2024! We also grab time with record holder David Alonso!

Adam, David and Neil are joined by the exceptionally knowledgeable Peter Bom at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to talk about the championship decider at the SolidarityGP, how riders cope with pressure, how tyres could be the lottery factor in Catalunya and a host of other topics

Bumper episode this week as Adam, David, Neil and Steve talk about the 2024 MotoGP finale and some of their thoughts on a possible outcome (as well as previous last round showdowns). Daniele Romagnoli and Cristian Gabarrini, Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia’s Crew Chiefs, preview the final stage of the title fight, and Adam speaks with Aleix Espargaro ahead of his closing Grand Prix as a full-time MotoGP racer.

With Neil beset with jetlag; Adam, David and Steve roam the entries from Patreon and the Paddock Pass Podcast subscribers for post-Sepang questions for this show. Some interesting topics on the table! Join us for special and exclusive content on Patreon. Become a Paddock Insider for just 10 dollars a month: https://www.patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast Find us here: https://twitter.com/PaddockPassPod

Adam, David and a Sepang-based Neil get together to talk about the latest swing in the twilight stages of 2024 MotoGP, the furnace of Malaysia where the pressure was acute and the implications of another engaging episode of this year’s championship.

After the serious flooding in Valencia, the final round of the MotoGP season is in some doubt. Neil is joined by Peter McLaren to discuss the ramifications of this week’s terrible events on the championship, and the likelihood a race taking place at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in a fortnight’s time. Could there be an alternative circuit? Or an alternative date? What do the riders want to do? And how did the two title contenders fare when faced with the press?

On this week's Thailand Grand Prix Discussion show we talk about Pecco Bagnaia's performance and whether Sunday's win was up there with his best, and whether he can count on any support from his fellow Ducati men in the two races that remain. We also look at KTM and ask is it the bike or the riders that perform well in slippery conditions and a host of other topics are covered. We also preview Sepang to talk about the Maniac's return to MotoGP. Join us for special and exclusive content on Patreon. Become a Paddock Insider for just 10 dollars a month: www.patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast Find us here: twitter.com/PaddockPassPod

It was a wet and slightly wild one for round eighteen of 2024 MotoGP at the Chang International Circuit. Adam, David and Neil go over the talking points from Buriram as the championship ‘rack’ winds on a few notches. Join us for special and exclusive content on Patreon. Become a Paddock Insider for just 10 dollars a month: https://www.patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast Find us here: https://twitter.com/PaddockPassPod

Adam and Neil have been getting clammy at the Chang International Circuit as the eighteenth round of 2024 cranks up the heat and two titles are still on the line. The Paddock Pass Podcast crew are joined by top journalist and good egg, Peter McLaren, to chat about the initial buzz at Thailand (no, not the mosquitos)… If you'd like to listen to our full Paddock Notes show sign up as a Paddock Insider at Patreon.com/PaddockPassPodcast

Is Toprak's WorldSBK title the most unexpected in the history of the series? Steve and Gordo look back at the final round of the 2024 campaign and Toprak Razgalioglu's confirmation as the Superbike World Champion for the second time. The Turkish rider is now unquestionably the best rider on the grid but what makes him special? We grabbed Phil Marron and Kenan Sofuglu to talk about when they believed they could win the title and the mentality of Toprak. Kenan's insight is very interesting as he talks about positivity rather than aggression being the key to winning in motorcycle racing. Steve also reminds Gordo of what we expected from Toprak back in January when they went to the the Spanish venue for pre-season testing. With Nicolo Bulega winning two races and Alvaro Bautista suffering another crash the future of Ducati is also a talking point. Who's the team leader for the red bikes in 2025? Alex Lowes' successful campaign is discussed as is the toughest season of Jonathan Rea's career. The show wraps up with title talk in WorldSSP, WorldSSP300 and the WorldWCR series

The malaise from Motegi was carried away by the Phillip Island breeze for what was another enthralling chapter of 2024 MotoGP. A little bit more tension with just three rounds to go this season. Here are the talking points from Australia with a time-pressed Neil in the Media Centre and a sleep-deprived Adam and David trying their best! Join us for special and exclusive content on Patreon. Become a Paddock Insider for just 10 dollars a month: https://www.patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast Find us here: https://twitter.com/PaddockPassPod Pic by www.motogp.com

Adam catches Neil, post evening-scoff in Cowes, Phillip Island, to talk about the news and comments from the first day of activity in Australia and Neil also has a chat with a special guest: Chris Vermeulen. To listen to the full show and get loads more content then join us here: https://www.patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast

After the closest finish in WorldSBK history, just 0.003s, the title fight between Toprak Razgatlioglu and Nicolo Bulega will go to the final round of the year. With 46 points seperating the duo Toprak needs to finish in third position on Saturday to clinch his second title. The Turkish rider held a media debrief at the Jerez Circuit today and as ever Steve, Gordo and Ivo were on had to dissect the news. Toprak is relaxed and ready to win and you can hear what he had to say on today's pod. We are also joined by Kawasaki's Alex Lowes as he walks through the media centre. The Phillip Island racer talks about his highlights of the season.

The Paddock Pass Podcast discusses a few talking points after the brief hiatus in the MotoGP calendar (BSB, rebranding, the Chinese Way) and ahead of one of the most anticipated Grands Prix of the season. We reminisce about Phillip Island and offer our predictions ahead of the championship run-in. Join us for special and exclusive content on Patreon. Become a Paddock Insider for just 10 dollars a month: https://www.patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast Find us here: https://twitter.com/PaddockPassPod Chapters 00:00 – Intro and an update on Neil’s diet 04:30 – Great racing? BSB and other comparisons 10:45 – Bye Bye QJ? 14:30 – MotoGP rebranding 19:50 – Phillip Island fuss! 26:30 – PI memories 35:30 – Australia predictions 39:45 – Alpinestars Fantasy League & Neil’s gaff

Adam and David disturb Neil in his downtown Tokyo malaise to chat the last ebbs of the Japanese Grand Prix and wade through the latest questions from listeners (some juicy ones as well)

Adam and David call Neil in Motegi to go over the news and talking points from a static Japanese Grand Prix where the numbers went up for one rider, mistakes carried a heavy cost and we saw one major celebration.

Neil is joined by a special guest for the first Paddock Notes show of the weekend: MotoGP commentator Matt Birt. As well as talking energy levels and early impressions of Japan, the pair addressed title race and gauged whether Jorge Martin really is a different championship animal this year. KTM's decision to go with Aki Ajo for their MotoGP project in future years, Marc Marquez's potential this weekend and Honda's huge Grand Prix were also topics for discussion. Sign up to become a Paddock Insider on Patreon to get the full episode, and the rest of our Paddock Notes shows every Grand Prix weekend https://www.patreon.com/posts/paddock-notes-113278148?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Toprak Razgatlioglu made his return to WorldSBK, Alvaro Bautista returned to form and Andrea Iannone returned to winning ways at the Aragon Round of WorldSBK. It was an incredible weekend where everywhere you turned there was another storyline to follow.

Swinging pendulums, all sorts of ‘pressures’, fans and no-fans(?), perfection and perdition. Quite a bit then. Adam, David and Neil bring you the Paddock Pass Podcast’s take on round fifteen of 2024 MotoGP. Turn up the heat.

Back to back rounds create a unique challenge. Co-ordinating recording is always a difficult task as we travel from one country to the next but for our review of the Cremona WorldSBK Round we decided to wait until we were assembled in Motorland Aragon. An added benefit of this is that we can recap the Italian action and grab five minutes with the riders as they go about their Thursday media duties. Danilo Petrucci was the star of the show at Round 9 and the Barni Ducati rider joins us to talk about winning, how his style of riding evolved from childhood and what it meant to win again after his training crash in April. He wasn't the only Ducati rider to appear as we grabbed Alvaro Bautista to talk about his Superpole struggles and whether he can still be a title contender. Adrian Huertas also stopped by to give us his thoughts on moving to Moto2 in 2025. The return of Toprak Razgatlioglu is the biggest story in Aragon and we couldn't record without getting ten minutes with the Superbike Superstar. After initially being rebuffed by BMW Toprak sat down with Steve and Gordo for ten minutes to talk about his injury, the frustrations of watching from home and his excitement of getting back to work!