Paddock Pass Podcast

Four days of testing on the Iberian Peninsula gets underway this week at Jerez. Two days of action will get underway at the Southern Spanish circuit on Wednesday before the paddock moves to Portimao. Iker Lecuona's move to the Aruba.it Ducati squad will see the Spaniard armed with the best bike on the grid and a team looking for their star man of the future. Could it be Lecuona? If he can perform well this year he'll be in the pound seats to be the man at Ducati if Nicolo Bulega moves to MotoGP. If Iker underperforms the Italian squad will look elsewhere to a host of out of contract MotoGP riders. The pressure won't ramp up for a few rounds but Lecuona needs to hit the ground running in 2026. Miguel Oliviera has already made the move from MotoGP to WorldSBK but what can we expect from him this year? Steve and Gordo breakdown his prospects and why this test is important for him and his new crew chief, Andrew Pitt. Bringing with him a wealth of experience as a rider and enginner Pitty is a wildcard in the mix at BMW. He's the man that could unlock potential from the package and give Miguel an extra gear compared to his teammate, Danilo Petrucci. The intra-team battle at BMW is set to be intriguing with the experienced Michael van der Mark in the shadows as test rider and a good yardstick to judge their performances on this week. At Honda Jake Dixon will be back in action and out to prove that lessons have been learned since his last days on the Fireblade. Three crashes were a blot on the November copy book for the British rider and it'll be interesting to see how his pace fares this week. After a raft of injuries in recent years for Lecuona Honda are already down a man with his replacement, Somkiat Chantra, ruled out of action after fracturing his forearm. Jonathan Rea was always scheduled to test this week for the Developement Team but will he now be seen as a potential replacement for Chantra at Round 1? Ryan Vickers and Tetsuta Nagashima are the other options. At bimota the biggest change is personnel. Axel Bassani has a new crew chief for 2026 with Uri Pallares rejoining the Provec run operation. The Italian rider has shown flashes of potential on the bimota but needs to make a step forward this year. Will changing crew chiefs bring with it a change of fortunes? It looks like bimota will only run Alex Lowes for a single day of this test. They also saved a day in November for the British rider. Is that a way to allocate the test dates more evenly throughout the campaign? Testing is always a chance to run the rule over rider changes. No change will be more significant than Alvaro Bautista joning Barni Racing. The double champion has a brand new bike for 2026 and the improved Ducati V4R might be exactly what he needs to be back on top. The fight for top Independent Rider honours this year should be led by Bautista but Jerez will give us a chance to see him in his new colours and on his new mount. There's lots to talk about as every in WorldSBK and we'll keep you up to date throughout the campaign! Sign up for for exclusive content from the MotoGP and WorldSBK paddocks https://patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast We have merch! Get your t-shirts, caps, hoodies and more here: https://paddockpasspodcast.com/shop

A rapid-fire reaction from Italy and the launch of the Ducati Lenovo team for what is the company’s centennial. Adam is joined by the host of the event, TNT Sports commentator and friend of the podcast Gavin Emmett, to provide some news and views on Marc Marquez, Pecco Bagnaia and the GP26 livery. You can watch the recording of the launch livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvIhLlp6WVc Sign up for for exclusive content from the MotoGP and WorldSBK paddocks https://patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast We have merch! Get your t-shirts, caps, hoodies and more here: https://paddockpasspodcast.com/shop

Adam, David and Neil travelled to the Sky studios in Milan as guest of Aprilia Racing to see the 2026 RS-GPs and hear what CEO Massimo Rivola, Technical Director Fabiano Sterlacchini and, of course, Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin had to say about the upcoming MotoGP season. Here are our three ‘takeways’ from another slick Italian presentation. You can watch the recorded livestream of the Aprilia launch here: https://www.youtube.com/live/tql7ZOS66XM?si=lrbv9Pe5Z1YLpITe Sign up for for exclusive content from the MotoGP and WorldSBK paddocks https://patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast We have merch! Get your t-shirts, caps, hoodies and more here: https://paddockpasspodcast.com/shop

The wheels are just starting to roll on 2026 so how about a few fun, uninformed and highly speculative predictions and ‘things we’d like to see’ for MotoGP this year?! Pedro Acosta to Yamaha? Dani Holgado to KTM? Is this the year Liberty makes it's presence felt? Join Adam, David and Neil for some wacky (as well as shrewd?) takes and more. FIM bans restarts at trackside https://motomatters.com/news/2026/01/11/fim_bans_track_side_restarts_in_worldsbk.html#comment-127314 Fermin Aldeguer breaks femur https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/fermin-aldeguer-remains-hospitalised-after-surgery-and-awaits-medical-discharge/10789456/ Sign up for for exclusive content from the MotoGP and WorldSBK paddocks https://patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast We have merch! Get your t-shirts, caps, hoodies and more here: https://paddockpasspodcast.com/shop

The year is in the books for the Paddock Pass Podcast and we'll close it out with our final show. Steve and Gordo review the year that was with topics such as our rider of the year, round of the year, surprise of the season and others covered!

The cooling-off period has ended, the final interviews have been written-up, some listener questions have been dealt-with, so now’s the time for the last call on the longest Grand Prix season on record: Our Moments, Surprises, Favourite/Worst races, Disappointments and more. 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/ Sign up for for exclusive content from the MotoGP and WorldSBK paddocks https://patreon.com/paddockpasspodcast

2025 is almost at an end and there is a feel for the future in the raft of listener questions we received for the latest Paddock Pass Podcast. 2027 rider moves, technical presumptions, Liberty’s changes, recommendations and more from Adam, David, Neil and Steve. Pic by Polarity Photo Neil: The Director - Daniel Kehlmann https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220160387-the-director David Fintan O'Toole - We Don't Know Ourselves https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56769525-we-don-t-know-ourselves Naomi Kritzer - Liberty's Daughter https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/192777167-liberty-s-daughter Steve: Patrick Radden Keefe - Say Nothing https://saynothingbook.com/ Peter Brown - The Wild Robot https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26030734-the-wild-robot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wild_Robot Adam: Motorcycle Grand Prix - Insider Stories from World Championship Racing. https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Grand-Prix-Insider-Championship/dp/1789296773/ The Bear - Season 3, Hulu Faithless - Champion Sound https://www.roughtrade.com/en-de/product/faithless/champion-sound#51969535017291 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

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.