Tank Slappers - A Motorsport Network MotoGP Podcast

Lewis Duncan (Autosport International Editor) is joined by Oriol Puigdemont (Motorsport.com Global MotoGP Editor) to discuss the current plans to go racing, and whether they think more races will be cancelled.

Autosport’s International Editor Lewis Duncan is joined by Motorsport.com’s Global MotoGP Editor Oriol Puigdemont to discuss the latest coronavirus situation surrounding MotoGP.

The first three-day pre-season test of the 2020 MotoGP season from the Sepang International Circuit concluded last weekend, with Petronas SRT’s Fabio Quartararo topping the timesheets.

For the first time, all six manufacturers - Honda, Ducati, Yamaha, Suzuki, KTM and Aprilia - ran their 2020 prototype bikes on track together, with 2019’s rookie sensation Quartararo leading the way on the factory-spec Yamaha he’ll race this year.

Yamaha unveiled its version of the ‘holeshot device’ Ducati has been using for over a year, while Aprilia’s revolution RS-GP made a strong on-track debut at Sepang and Suzuki have left a few worried.

It appears Honda’s RC213V is still a troubled beast, as its turning problems remain, while two crashes for world champion Marc Marquez compounded a tough weekend for him as he put his recently-operated on right shoulder through under stress for the first time.

KTM took a step forward with its RC16, while Ducati - like Honda - also appear to be on the backfoot after a low-key showing on its GP20 Desmosedici.

With many more questions than answers offered up after the three days of running at Sepang, Autosport’s Motorcycle Racing Correspondent Lewis Duncan and Motorsport.com’s Oriol Puigdemont try to decipher what we learned from the first MotoGP pre-season test on the latest edition of the Tank Slappers podcast.

With Quartararo and Vinales easily the two fastest Yamaha riders in 2019, and two of the only riders capable of running world champion Marc Marquez hard at points last year, has Yamaha formed a ‘dream team’? On the latest Tank Slappers podcast, Motorsport.com’s Global MotoGP Editor Oriol Puigdemont joins Autosport Motorcycle Racing Correspondent Lewis Duncan to discuss this very idea. They also look at the decision to move Rossi out of the works team and why this had to happen, and also delve into the impact Jorge Lorenzo’s return to the Yamaha fold as test rider will have going forward.

With all factory contracts up for grabs for the 2021 season, this year’s MotoGP ‘silly season’ is set to be the series’ maddest yet. One of the biggest story arcs in shaping the 2021 grid will be what nine-time grand prix motorcycle racing world champion Valentino Rossi decides to do; will he retire or will he decide to extend his stay in MotoGP. In the first edition of the Tank Slappers podcast in 2020, Autosport’s Motorcycle Racing Correspondent Lewis Duncan is joined by Motorsport.com’s Global MotoGP Editor Oriol Puigdemont to discuss Rossi’s options and as well as Yamaha’s. They also delve into what Ducati needs to do to topple the MotoGP juggernaut of Marc Marquez and Honda, and discuss Aprilia’s current situation with Andrea Iannone, who was hit with an anti-doping ban over the winter.

In a special edition of the show, the Tank Slappers podcast sits down with road racing hero Peter Hickman to discuss his sensational 2019 season. Crowned fastest newcomer at the Isle of Man TT on his debut in 2014 – a record he still holds to this day – Hickman has steadily chipped his way into the top of the pack on the roads, claiming multiple wins across all classes at the major international events.Hickman explains why he and the team pushed back against this decision, and reflects on his year on both the roads and in the British Superbike Championship. He also offers some insight into the confusion surrounding this year’s Macau Grand Prix, and the amazing gesture from declared race winner and team boss for the weekend Michael Rutter after the race.

Johann Zarco's place at the Avintia Ducati squad for the 2020 MotoGP season has been officially confirmed after he revealed last week that the deal was signed. How did he go from saying they are "not a top team" just days before signing for them? On this week's Tank Slappers podcast Lewis and Uri delve into the recent rumours and discuss the real reasons Zarco chose Ducati.

In a special edition of the Tank Slappers podcast, we sit down with Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness. A winner of 23 TTs, McGuinness is one of the greatest road racers of all time and one of its most popular stars. He made a full-time return to racing this year following 18 months on the sidelines to recover from a horror leg injury. However, his return year proved difficult as numerous problems with his Norton machinery plagues his racing. In an exclusive sitdown with the Tank Slappers podcast, McGuinness discusses his season and what went wrong. He also talks about his future plans - which have included talks with Paul Bird about racing one of his Ducatis next season - and gives his thoughts on the loss of the Zero TT electric race and what could be done to rescue it.

On Monday in Valencia Honda announced it would be partnering Marc Marquez with his Moto2 world champion brother in MotoGP next season.

On Thursday in Valencia, Jorge Lorenzo announced his retirement, with rumours immediately swirling as to who could replace him at the works Honda team.

Sensationally, Alex Marquez emerged as a contender, with Autosport revealing on Friday that a deal was close to being agreed between both parties.

With the news now official, Motorsport.con’s Global MotoGP Editor Oriol Puigdemont and Autosport’s Motorcycle Racing Correspondent Lewis Duncan discuss the move on the latest edition of the Tank Slappers podcast.

Oriol and Lewis also share their fondest memories of Lorenzo’s glittering career, and discuss the rumours linking Johann Zarco – thought to be in line for Lorenzo’s Honda – to the Avintia Ducati team for next year.

The Tanks Slappers podcast is Autosport and the Motorsport Network’s podcast for all things two-wheeled, and can be found on Apple Podcasts via ITunes, Google Podcasts and Spotify – simply search for ‘Tank Slappers’.