Grace from the Parc Fermé Podcast (www.theparcferme.com) joins Jim to talk about what MotoGP can do to attract more eyes to the sport. Grace has witnessed the rise of F1 in the United States and her insight into what made her a fan of MotoGP is very interesting. We discuss the fan surveys that MotoGP did and talk about getting MotoGP onto a major media platform in the US as a way to increase viewership. We also talk about access to the riders and the fan experience while at a race. They also throw out some ideas on technical segments that could be added between the Moto2 qualifying and the MotoGP sprint races. It's a unique inside to the sport that we love. Also Jim found a link to the Freddie Spencer show where he races a car and a street bike around Laguna Seca. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bKy99TIMa8

Happy New Year! Jim and Rich get together for their first podcast of 2024! The guys start out by talking through a little bit of news and then turn their attention to a review of the 2023 season. Plus Jim puts out a call for a Moto America co-host! If interested please email [email protected]. Lastley please remember to like and subscribe to the show!

In this, the final collection of chats from last November’s Qatar MotoGP round, Rich catches up with the following paddock personalities: (0:44), Simon Patterson, (10:39) Stuart Higgs, (16:51) Toni Elias, (18:17) Bjorn Estment, (23:27) Randy Mamola & (25:13) John Hopkins.

As mentioned in the chat with Simon, he has a website where you can go to donate funds or bid on motorcycle racing gear, all of which is aimed at providing much needed medical equipment for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Please head over to https://linktr.ee/racingforukraine and contribute if you can.

Hopefully these Qatar specials, along with other race event content captured in 2023, provide a glimpse of the direction we want to take MotoPod in for 2024 and beyond, alongside our regular race review chats. In order to achieve this, we need your support so please subscribe and become a Patreon if you can; you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/MotoPod

Thanks to all of our loyal listeners and supporters and thanks also to show partner Roadskin. Zoom Zoom…….

Part 3 of the Qatar MotoGP specials see’s Rich talking with a number of the team bosses, primarily LCR Honda’s Lucio Cecchinello. In order we have: (0:35) Lucio Cecchinello, (21:17) Paolo Ciabatti, (26:28) Davide Tardozzi, (27:13) Francesco Guidotti & (30:28) Razlan Razali.

Lucio has appeared on MotoPod before so it was great to speak with him at length again. We are hugely thankful to Lucio and to team press officer Irene for setting this up. The other interviews were impromptu but demonstrate how open and accommodating the MotoGP paddock and participants were. Although RNF are no longer in the MGP series (being replaced in 2024 by Trackhouse Racing) nevertheless Razlan Razali was incredibly accommodating and provided valuable insights on the riders who will continue on the satellite Aprilia’s with Trackhouse in the 2024 season.

Once again, thanks to the teams and to Dorna Sports for the time and generosity given to MotoPod. We will look forward to being back in a MotoGP paddock soon.

Please subscribe and become a Patreon if you can. Thanks to all of our loyal listeners and supporters and thanks also to show partner Roadskin. Zoom Zoom…….

In part 2 of the Qatar MotoGP special recorded back in November, Rich speaks to a whole host of riders from the 3 classes. The chats involve all manner of topics, ranging from aspects of their careers, performances in the 2023 championship, penalties and of course a look forward to 2024, particularly for those moving up a class. The teams and riders were incredibly generous with their time and a pleasure to meet so thanks to all involved and thanks again to Dorna Sports for their valuable assistance in providing MotoPod with access to the Lusail International Circuit paddock.

It’s a long show! In order of sequence, we have: (0:35) Iker Lecuona, (11:44) Taka Nakagami, (23:18) Jake Dixon, (33:11) Fermin Aldeguer, (39:05) Sam Lowes, (52:57) Alonso Lopez, (58:18) Joe Roberts, (01:07:08) Sergio Garcia, (01:14:16) Collin Veijer, (01:21:54) Ajumu Sasaki, (01:29:00) Deniz Oncu, (01:42:52) Josh Whatley & (01:49:33) Scott Ogden. Phew!!

Please subscribe and become a Patreon if you can. Thanks to all of our loyal listeners and supporters and thanks also to show partner Roadskin. Zoom Zoom…….

For show 752 we catch up with a number of previously unreleased interviews captured during the 2023 season. First up (0:56) Jim speaks with Moto America’s Jake Gagne from the Pitt race in August. Next up are a selection of talks from Rich at the penultimate BSB round at Donington Park in September: (11:32) McAMS Yamaha boss Steve Rodgers, (14:09) Lucca Allen from Team FR89 and Team SBR Kawasaki rider Carl Harris, (27:47) Asher Durham of G&S Racing and (31:07) Oxford Products Racing Ducati’s British SuperSport champion Ben Currie. The show rounds out (33:45) with Rich speaking to Aruba.IT Racing Ducati rider coach and multiple WSBK race winner Chaz Davies at the Donington Park World Superbike round back in June.

Please subscribe and become a Patreon if you can. Thanks to all of our loyal listeners and supporters and thanks also to show partner Roadskin. Zoom Zoom…….

As we start MotoPod’s off-season specials, we are pleased to bring you the first of several interviews from the penultimate round of the MotoGP World Championship at Lusail International Circuit. This episode brings us the irrepressible Hervé Poncharal, boss of Red Bull KTM Tech3. It’s a while since Hervé was last on the pod (see Episode 330) so there was much to cover. So much so in fact that he and Rich spoke on Saturday and Sunday! Hervé was extremely generous with his time, so a huge thanks to him for this long overdue chat with MotoPod.

Please like and subscribe and become a Patreon if you can. These Qatar specials were made possible with the generous assistance of Dorna Sports, for which we are extremely grateful. Thanks also to show partner Roadskin. Enjoy……Zoom Zoom…….

What could be longer than 22 weekends and 44 races? How about a two hour podcast to wrap up the 2023 season? Jim and Rich go crazy covering the last racing weekend and the MotoGp test. The Moto3 race was lackluster but Sasaki finally got a win. In Moto2 Aldeguer showed why he is the next hot MotoGp property by winning his fourth straight race. The MotoGP races were great theater with plenty of action and drama to talk about. From the Marc Marquez incidents to Brad Binder and his cheeky drop one place penalty to tire pressure fouls this race had it all. The guys then discuss the high points of the test on Tuesday and the off track news of the new MotoGP team. Grab a beer and settle in. This a long one!

Jim catches up with Rich (in Qatar) to discuss the penultimate round of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship after a thrilling weekend of racing, full of action and controversy. Rich gives the lowdown on his first experience in the MGP paddock while the two discuss questionable racing tactics, fisticuffs in the desert and dodgy rear tyres (or maybe not).

Please like and subscribe and become a Patreon if you can. Thanks as always to show partner Roadskin. Zoom Zoom…….

Rich and Jim come together to discuss the racing action from Malaysia. With two dull races you would think the show would be shorter than usual but that is not the case. The guys go through some great listener feed concerning the 105% rule and automatic clutches. Many thanks to Chris and Scott for sending in the emails. Next up was a bit of news rumors that have Martin and Bastianini swapping rides? Plus the rumor that Marini will replace Marc Marquez at HRC. Fun stuff! Finally on to the racing action! The Moto3 race was a fantastic race with a first time winner and potential World Champ next year. The Moto2 race was dreary with the only action being a scary crash at turn two on the first lap. The Moto2 Championship was clinched by Pedro Acosta with an excellent podium finish. Lastly the guys talked about the boring MotoGP race and decides that that they finally have to talk about the stupid minimum air pressure rule.