Oxley Bom MotoGP podcast

Smile, you son of a bitch!* When most people picture the landlocked mountains of Austria, the last thing they think of is shark attacks. So imagine our surprise when we saw the Shark gobble up the competition this week at Red Bull Ring, even devouring Jorge Martin whole. The Shark in question is, of course, Pedro Acosta driving that giant hammerhead of a KTM. He dominated the training on Friday, screwed it up dramatically on Saturday during the sprint and then came back swinging...

Sometimes, fights fight over the silliest things. As their highly-paid producer, I can tell you that Mat and Peter are no different. This weekend, the subject of Mizano's Curvone came up. You know, that famous 11th turn at San Marino. Except that it might not be a turn, but a kink. Or maybe it isn't. I'm not going to give a definitive answer here - I'm trying to preserve a very delicate peace! Luckily, there's lots of other things that happened during the race that we can talk about, ...

Sadly, we've lost Philip Island. So now what’s going to take us back to Australia? Well, welcome to the Adelaide Street Circuit. It’s 4,13 km (2,57 miles) long, has 15 turns and might run straight through some very special parkland. It’s also, thanks to reasons not completely unrelated to the above, rather controversial. Having seen the virtual rendition, Mat and Peter are wary. Don’t get us wrong, it seems like a lovely idea to make a street track. But should it really be i...

Sometimes, small mistakes make for big excitement. Case in point: Marc Marquez, neglecting to disengage the rear holeshot device, sparks flying as the battle for first becomes an open question. See, there's something interesting about this track and the current set-up of MotoGP and it's got a lot to do with the tires. You might not see it on camera* but this track eats rubber for breakfast. Want to win? Then get in first, close it up and don't try to get away too far because you'll sti...

You want to ride a MotoGP-bike? Yeah, good luck with that: everyone knows these are machines made for murder, beasts of technology that only those gifted with near-superhuman reflexes can manage. These days, those rides have about as much in common with your average road bike as a space shuttle has in common with a paper airplane. What can I say; you can't walk the cutting edge if you don't expect to bleed a little. Except that once upon a time, there was a bike that was different. Fast...

No race? Nope! It's the second summer mini-break, giving everyone some time to catch their breaths. It also raises the question what a million dollar rider does to relax. Drinks at a tropical beach, anyone? That'd be our plan, surely. Not sure what cocktails would be involved, but feel free to let us know your best guess for your favourite rider. The last time we had a break like this was last month, and we spend it talking about the characteristics of the top five riders. This week we'...

Some things are just meant to be together. You know: peanut butter and chocolate. Salt and pepper. Silverstone and Aprilia. Yes, Assen and Phillip Island are nice. But bring these bikes to Silverstone, and their aero really starts making the difference. The result? A clear domination, where in one historic weekend the Italian manufacturer managed to lock down the grid's front row, take all three top places during the sprint and then doing the same during the main race in a pretty histo...

IMPORTANT: This episode uses a lot of photo’s, which you will probably want to look at. To do that, please watch this episode on our Patreon or YouTube. Enjoy! Trip report! Being world famous (and very handsome!) MotoGP-journalist, you wouldn’t believe the places that Mat and Peter have been. But even for them, there’s some places you just don’t get to go to. Places like the country of Sweden, for example. Yet that’s exactly where we went, just north of Stockholm, to visit the elusiv...

So, imagine this. It’s July. You’ve got nothing to do. The day’s a real scorcher, and all you want to do is just sit down in the shade, have a cool drink and, who knows, listen to a ninety minutes long podcast where two geezers discuss the potential benefits of strapping a nuclear reactor to a motorbike and other hypotheticals. Well, whether you’re having a sunny holiday or are just getting your tan on in the mediterranean bliss of, eh, London…we’ve got just the thing for you! ...

Jorge Marttin. Ai Ogura. Marc Marquez. Marco Bezzecchi. Fabio Di Giannantonio. Five names, and only a total of 24 points separating them. Never before in the history of MotoGP has a championship seen this many contenders for the top spot at the halfway point, let alone have them be so incredibly close. No, seriously: we made Mat check the history books, so you can quote us on that! It's a fearsome line-up of killers, each of a different ilk and shouldering different struggles.&nbs...

Sometimes, racing motorbikes is kind of like dating: there’s a hundred little things that seem super important to the performance, but in the end everybody just wants you to be interesting. And being interesting is kind of a challenge when we’re at the Sachsenring, because this track has one good line and three places to overtake. Or, to quote the great poet Luca Marini: it’s Monaco for bikes. But don’t be fooled, because this year we have riders who definitely spiced things up. Ai Ogu...

It’s the fourth of July, and that means we have something to celebrate! Yes, on this very day, a very long time ago, a bunch of dudes thought up something that would grow into a world-changing institution whose age has reached the triple digits. So, congratulations Ducati! Let’s be honest: your hosts are giant history nerds, and Peter has a very long history with this particular manufacturer. In fact, some might even say that the story of Ducati overlaps with his origin story! So ...

Today's race was brought to you by the letter 'A'. That's 'A', like in 'Assen', 'Aprilia', 'Ai' and, of course: "Aaaaaaaaaargh, why is there so much sharp gravel everywhere?" That gravel is especially nasty, as Peter assures us that the stones here are particularly unfriendly. And that's not even getting into those killer curbs, and the sharp corners that become extra tricky in the sweltering heat. Today we got to see the oldest track in MotoGP deliver all those nasty surprises and ultr...

Sometimes we get by with a little help from our friends. Case in point: Marc Marquez, taking first place with the help of Martin and Bezzecchi. The latter's help was especially unconventional, as the Bez managed to get himself suspended for a race when he decided to slap a race official. And no matter what you say, you just can't go around slapping stewards or mauling marshals. It's a slip-up from the world's fastest hippy - or, to quote Mat: "The Red Mist can be a terrible thing!" And ...

Ah, the holeshot device. If you've heard Mat and Peter talk about it before, you'd fear to think what would happen if they ever met the poor devil who invented it... ...well, his name is Robin Tuluie and he's joining us this week! To say Tuluie is an important figure in motor sports is slightly underselling the man. Yes, he invented both the ride height device in MotoGP and introduced mass dampeners to F1, but that's really just fooling around for this modern day Renaissance Man a...

Last year was the first time we went to Balaton, and the result wasn't great. This year? Hate the track, love the riders. And I say 'riders', plural, because it takes two to tango. And people, did we get one hell of a dance between Acosta and Marquez today. Yes, the king is back and schooling everyone with 1,5 functional arms. Keen readers might notice that this is slightly less than the average of 2, but leave it to Marquez to make the best of it and show everyone how it's done...

It's a party at Aprilia and occasion for some very cross glares over at Ducati this Sunday at Mugello. Good race? You bet! So let's go over to Italy, and see what caught the eye of our hosts Mat and... ...wait, I'm getting word that Peter is still on a secret mission somewhere? Oh dear. Have we got anyone else on the ground, then? Nope, nobody but Mat and his incredible social skills! So there he goes, conjuring up a co-host out of thin air for this weekend! Give it up for Cory West, Am...

You've heard it here first, everyone! THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAR RIGHT NOW. 'What war?', you might ask? Well, I couldn't possibly tell you! Maybe the Duke of Luxembourg decided to invade Thailand. Maybe it's the manufacturers versus Liberty. Maybe cats and dogs are finally getting serious about it. All just as likely, right? Okay, maybe if there was a war it would be about the second topic. And maybe that hypothetical scrap would be about a new rule that limits riders to a single bik...

Well, that wasn't what we expected, nor what we wanted. Bloody disaster! In case you're reading this from some far-off future where people (hopefully) don't remember this race very well anymore, know that we had a pretty mess on our hands with bad, avoidable crashes galore. You could call it a lottery, you could call it a farce...but you can't call it racing. Understandably, Mat and Peter have some thoughts on the matter. What type of thoughts? Well, let's just say that as a produ...

Oh dear, what a weekend! For want of a screw, the race was lost. Or, maybe I should say: for want of a proper screw. Yes, I'm talking about Marc Marquez, him having a screw loose leading to a rather painful absence for the man who'd absolutely shattered the lap record at Les Mans on Saturday. And it's bad news for Ducati, too, as Alex took a tumble within the first rounds today and left the door wide open for Aprilia to, once again, establish dominance. It looks like the greatest contes...

Come on, it's time to check out the best race ever. You might have noticed, but a lot has been changing in MotoGP recently. New owners, new rules, new tracks and the end of the 1000cc-era. It feels weird, doesn't it? Most humans, when unsure about the future, start ruminating on the past in search of answers. After all, it's often only when seeing where we came from that we can actually see how far we've come and how much things changed. But turn back the clock by, say, twenty years. Wh...

VIDEO ALERT! We've got Mat and Peter live from Jerez, with their mugs on camera! I'd click this, if I was you! Normally after a race, you just pack up and go. If you hurry up, you've got just enough time to celebrate your victory or mourn your losses and still catch your plane. But if you did that this week you'd feel pretty silly at the airport, because we've got testing to do! And it's a little bit of a special occasion, too, as we draw inevitably closer towards the end of the 1...

VIDEO ALERT! We've got Mat and Peter taking a stroll across Jerez, and that's the episode version I'd most recommend! There's this thing called the law of opposites. You know: for every Ying, there's a Yang. For every good thing, a bad thing. For every exciting sprint, one boring race. Oh bloody hell, we weren't allowed to say that! Well never mind anyway, because it won't stay boring if you look a little closer. And you know who's really good at that? That's right, your hosts Mat and...

Here's MotoGP. Here's World Superbike. Quickly: what's the biggest difference? Speed, of course! Or at least that's what the answer would have been at any point in history. But here we are, at the threshold of the biggest rule shake-up in the history of the sport, laying down new regulations on aerodynamics, ride height devices, fuel and engine capacity. All to slow down the machines to a level where squishy humans won't get turned into goo when their bike flips out on a track that was ...

It's tiny. It's kind of hard to reach. It gets used at the start of the race, and then it gets folded away. Oh, and for riders and engineers it's the last big tool to shave off precious time in the corners. That's right, this week Peter's coming in clutch with a deep dive into...the clutch! How does it work, what influence does it have and why are these devices so different in MotoGP, compared to the ones on your own bike? Mat wants to know, and Peter has got the know-how. Some ...

When not writing descriptions for episodes of the Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast, I love to spend time on games. And I mean games in every format, from ancient boardgames to weird videogames and, of course, racing. It's not just about playing them, but also about appreciating the design behind them; the way every little aspect has been tweaked just so, in order to make it fun and meaningful. So trust me when I say: making a game flow right is so, so much harder than you'd think. Why am I te...

During the week, he's an unassuming MotoGP-rider. But when the weekend comes around and Sunday's knocking, he changes into...Super Sunday Boy! This week, will our superhero have a mighty collision before parking his bike all the way at the front? Yes, he can! And speaking of the front, something we didn't find there was Ducati. Forget about that beautiful uninterrupted streak of victories last year - this season, they're being passed left and right in the same corner. So what is g...

It's the second race of the season, and MotoGP is back in Brazil. It's been absolute ages since we've last been to the Autodromo Internacional de Goiania, so how has it faired? Well, they say love starts with first impressions - and Goiana definitely delivered. She's short, she's wet (especially after the rain), she's wild...and she's got a sinkhole that's ready to mingle! To quote Mat: "At least it gives you an interesting memory." (Cue the Liberty Media exec's kicking their TVs: "Four billi...

Last week, we asked our dear Patrons if they had any questions for us. And, well, you know the drill: lots of you responded, we picked our favourites and finally Mat and Peter do their best to answer them in an hour or so. Right? I mean, how many questions in need of resolution could there possibly be? Well, let's just say that if you normally pour yourself a glass for these episodes, then this time you might want to bring the bottle. Or just bring the whole damn cask, because we'll be here f...

It's all good times for Aprilia. Their hardware is proving top-notch at the track, and even after one race they've already got some spectacular results in the pocket. In fact, if the world ends tomorrow they'd technically be world champions! But what are the chances of that happening? In completely unrelated news, are we still doing that Qatar GP or are we canceling it due to a chance of missiles? And speaking of apocalyptic disasters, we should probably peak over at Ducati and see how the...

Ah, take a whiff of that! You smell it? It’s that unique scent of jungle, petrol and excitement which can only mean one thing: MotoGP is back, baby! Now, you might wonder why we just described the above mentioned (and highly questionable) smell. But you have to understand that Mat is currently at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand while being sick as a dog. Seriously, some vicious flu has got him down and he’s purely holding on through the strength of willpower and loz...

In 1776, Adam Smith famously speculates on the concept of a free market and coins the term 'capitalism'. Then, in 2026, the organizers of MotoGP suddenly announce that Philip Island is gone from the official roster of the tournament. Coincidence? We think not! Yes, it's the cruel, cold, capitalist culling of a great circuit and the hosts are not amused. In fact, Mat's literally sick of it and has come down with an awful flu. But just like a certain racing organization, we're a bunch of ...

Here at Oxley Bom, everyone knows that the thing we're most famous for are our 'charming' personalities. Like, we can promise we don't physically bite - but that's about the limit of what we can guarentee. So you'll understand when I say it is a great honor to have an actual returning guest to our show! Who is this dauntless fellow? Why, it's the awesome Livio Suppo! For those not in the know (or those who haven't listened to our interview two years ago) we should probably tell you that...

It's hard being a motorsports journalist, you know? Always traveling the world, visiting exotic countries and having to tell people about all the cutting-edge machines you saw there. It's a horrible job, really, but someone has to do it. And this time, that arduous task fell to Peter. Sorry Peter, you're up! So yes, we sent our most intrepid expert packing and told him not to come back until he's got some good stories for us.* And here he is, ready to give Mat the debrief on everything he saw...

Hey, want to score a special deal? How about a nice MotoGP-rider, pretty fast and only slightly used. No? Maybe prefer a rookie, instead? Someone promising but without proven records, so dirt cheap if you act fast. Better act fast before they're all gone... Yes everyone, it's Auction Day at Oxley Bom and we are your auctioneers! In front of us: a collection of riders, contracts currently still unsigned. Who will ride into a new season, and who will step out of the race? That's what we're abou...

We've talked about the riders. We've yapped about the manufacturers. And today? Today we get to the real meat and potatoes...the bikes! Never mind that everybody's still getting ready to start testing in Sepang - we've already got plenty to discuss. We already know a lot about these bikes, so it's time we start looking at the hard questions. Questions like: Are they going to make the racing better? Will they be safer? Are they fun to watch? What's their zodiac? A...

A certain German philosopher once warned that he who stares into the racing grid long enough must know that the racing grid also stares back.* This week, Peter discovers that we have some very particular fans in high places, and wishes they stayed anonymous. We can't talk crap about you if we know who you are - stop being friendly to us! Rather, we prefer our listeners and us to be like estranged spouses: cold and distant strangers, drawn together by a shared mania. Love you, tho...

Everybody has questions. Wait, let me rephrase that: everyone of you has questions for us. And you know? We were kind of asking for it – literally, since we asked our sweet Patrons to donate not just their money, but their MotoGP-inquiries as well. And let me tell you, our Patrons can be very generous! So here we are, four pages of questions ranging from the mundane to the bizarre and everything inbetween. Do we have enough time to get through all of them? Not this week, we don’t....

Happy new year, everyone! As we recover from the absolute madness of December, a lot of us in the racing world find ourselves with some free time on our hands. No races means less work, right? And that means more time to better yourself. It's the perfect moment for New Year's resolutions, like: "I want to become a better MotoGP-journalist!" I mean, not us, of course. We're bloody perfect. But here at the Oxley Bom Podcast, we sometimes feel like the rest of the world has some catching u...

Got any unfinished business? Better take care of it fast, because the year is almost at an end and the clock is ticking... Take Mat and Peter, for example. They started by listing the riders. Then they moved on to the manufacturers - the bottom ones first. And now? All that's left is the big cats, the factories at the top of the food pyramid. They all got straight A's, so they should be safe, right? Right? Nah, I think we're leaving 2025 behind on a bang. It's more fun that way. So chee...

It is the longest, darkest night of the year in it's longest, darkest season. In the depths of Dickensian London, Mat discusses bike design with the ghosts of racing past, present and future. In the desolate woods around Assen, Peter is furiously peddling his bike in an attempt to hunt Kris Kringle. And meanwhile, our producer is off performing some unspeakable rites with a goat on the winter solstice. In other words, it sure sounds like the holidays are upon us! So what bet...

If you've checked out last week's episode, you'll know that it was Jeremy Burgess who first described riders as 'flickering lightbulbs'. Why? Because the moment they start to fail, you just replace them with a new one. Cruel, yes, but that's MotoGP for you. You can be one of the twenty fastest riders alive - but all that matters is that you're always just a little slower than the next guy. You've been demoted to dead wood, to borrow another term from Burgesss. Good luck, and ...

Who's got six thumbs in total and is back in their own recording booths, with audio that won't melt your ears off? That's right, it's the Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast! Now, if your are a rider and are currently enjoying some well-deserved R&R, you might want to turn off this podcast. Because they might be off the bike, but that doesn't mean they're off the hook. This week, we're taking a page from the book of Jeremy Burgess when he said: "Really, riders are like light bulbs: if they sta...

Oh boy, have we got something special this time... Last week, Mat and Peter gave their first ever live performance at the Bike Shed in London. I thought we'd get filthy rich of it, but it turns out those silly sods were doing it for charity? Oh well, I guess we can do it for free this one time... To all those who attended: thank you so much! We hope you had a great night. And for all the rest of our listeners, we've got this recording to show you what happened. Mat and Peter joined forces wit...

It's over! It's all over! Forever! What am I talking about? The 2025 MotoGP-season, of course. Layed to rest in Spain last week, gone but not forgotten, etc. We all had fun, didn't we? Okay, with that out of the way...it's on to the 2026 season! If you are part of our Patreon, you will already have heard Peter talk about the Valencia test in our special crossover episode. But there is a lot more to be said, and it's high time we did so. So, what did we see the team...

Hey everyone, this podcast is best experienced as a video. But for those of you who prefer us only going into your ears rather than your eyeballs, here's the audio only version! And now that I have your ear... ...We're doing our first ever LIVE SHOW, this Friday at the Bike Shed in London! Want to be there? Then go buy your tickets here, and help support Two Wheels For Life! Okay, back to our regular programming... ---- And just like that, it's over. "Not with a bang, but with a whimper...

Want to see a magic trick? Then just keep watching Marco Bezzechi as he disappears right in front of Álex Márquez and Pedro Acosta's eyes, only to magically reappear right next to them on the victory podium! Yes, today was the day that Bezzechi showed us all what he's capable of. Even Peter didn't see it coming! And 'the Bez' was far from the only one serving us spectacular scenes of racing delight, as we had some rough play and knife fighting going on. Did some of it include our favour...

If you are looking for the beating heart of MotoGP, you need look no further than Spain. It's where young riders go to get an education, where living legends have their own training grounds and where the Dorna keep their headquarters. Want to be part of the circus? Then you better get yourself down south - because if you're not in Spain, you're going nowhere fast. But it wasn't always like this, was it? Isn't it a bit strange that a global tournament is this beholden to a country that d...

There’s some days in racing that everyone dreads, knowing that they might be inevitable. Today was one of them, with a horrible crash in Moto3 between José Antonio Rueda and Noah Dettwiler seeing both taken to the hospital and the latter undergoing several emergency surgeries. Our thoughts go out to them. Meanwhile, in MotoGP, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s business as usual with Alex Marquez snatching another victory for his ever-growing collection. But let’s look beyond that...

You have to hand it to Phillip Island: there's no track quite like it. I don't mean that metaphorically, by the way - it really is unique in two very specific ways. First of all, there's the fact that this track's high speeds and twisty turns demand the type of agile bike that normal aero cannot give you. The solution? An official exception from normal aero setup. Also, this lay-out of high-speed turns makes a fool out of holeshot devices. It all results in some fantastically old-...

It started with us asking our listeners for some questions. Then you responded. Now we're here, with the longest episode in the show's history. Funny how those things go, eh? Yes, it's Q&A-time! Our wonderful Patrons brought the questions, and now Mat and Peter will have to find the answers. We've got tires, brakes, bikes, riders, conspiracies, mountain bikes and even clowns and badgers! Trust me: you are not ready. I'd write more here, but I think you all got the gist and I don't w...

When it comes to racing, you either cash out or crash out. And today? Today we're all about the latter, both literally and figuratively. There's a crash for Marc Marquez, potentially locking him out of the next races. And while a broken collar bone hurts like hell, the knowledge that he's already got the championship in the pocket might give some comfort. But there's many kinds of crashing. Take Ducati for example: dominating the earlier half, but now hitting a performance wall. Meanwhi...

We've got a new champion! We all knew it was going to happen, but it's still magical to see: Marc Marquez completes his comeback by securing the world title, and nobody was able to do a thing about it. Tell you what, somebody should write a book about the guy... But while Ducati has one hell of a reason to throw a party, they also have reason to worry. Because what was going on with Bagnaia's bike? It seems to finally be doing what its rider wants it to do, but what causes it? Did Ducati roll...

!!!ATTENTION!!! THIS ONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A VIDEO. WE’LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH THE NORMAL PODCAST, BUT THIS IS A VIDEO INTERVIEW THAT YOU SHOULD WATCH HERE ON VIDEO. YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ONLY HEAR, BUT DON’T SAY WE DIDN’T WARN YOU OR YOUR EARS! You remember how, last week, we took a camera with us to Misano? Now, you know we wouldn’t just use that to report on the race, now would we? Oh yes, last week Mat and Peter snuck into the quarters of Pramac in order to have a chat with ...

!!!ATTENTION!!! THIS EPISODE WAS ORIGINALLY FILMED AS A VIDEO. YOU CAN WATCH IT HERE. RATHER LISTEN TO IT ON AUDIO? THEN CONTINUE HERE! Ever wanted to attend the race at Misano? Then come live vicariously through us! Your hosts Mat and Peter are ready to take you along for a stroll. We'll start at the Ducati celebrations and keep walking. Along the way we will discuss the secrets behind a flying chain, the insane performance of Bezzecchi, the woes of Bagnaia and we might even walk...

It's a jungle out there* and the predators are running wild! That's the metaphor Peter uses to describe today's race, explaining why he and Mat have a very clear Man of the Match in Barcelona. Spoiler warning: he came in fifth today... And yes, the Marquez siblings continue to reign supreme as they dominate every other rider who showed up to their home country. But surprisingly, it's Alex that takes the number one position. Is Marc slipping? Is he going soft on family? Or is he suddenly...

Ten years ago, two riders had a bit of a scuffle. Today, we’re still seeing the consequences play out. The place? The Phillip Island racetrack, Australia. The time? September, 2015. Going neck-on-neck are two riders of a special caliber. The first has long cemented his legacy as one of the best riders in history – a living legend on wheels. But he’s fighting now, struggling against a Spanish newcomer who’s got his eyes on the prize. Before this, they presented themselves as amicable com...

Wa-hoo! It's Mario ̶K̶a̶r̶t̶ MotoGP, where chaos reigns on a brand new track with more turns that Rainbow Road. This is very exciting, much like falling down the stairs is a thrilling experience. Who knows, maybe next year we'll see Marc Marquéz being chased by Blue Shells! If it sounds like we're grumpy this week, it's probably because there's nothing more frustrating than an interesting failure. Is Balaton really this bad? Yes, and that's because it's doing the right thing...

Look, we all knew who was going to win this one. We're living in strange times, when legends ride amongst us. You might say this makes things too predictable - it's always going to be Mark on number one, driving the Ducati. But even Ducati's dominance cannot remain absolute - not forever, at least. Enter Aprilia, taking third place on the podium with a machine piloted by Bezzecchi. And right behind comes KTM, with a respectable fourth place in the troubled manufacturer's home game. Inte...

Mea culpa! Mea maxima culpa! Yes, it seems like we suffered a bad case of "missing Maverick" during our rider reviews. What can we say - he was right in the middle and we just straight skipped him. Scandalous! Seems like the rider reviews aren't quite done, yet... What have we got in other news? For starters, there's Constructors' World Championship. That's the grading system where we're not looking for the best rider, but the best bike. Don't feel bad if the above doesn't immediately m...

Last week, Mat and Peter set out on a journey to review every rider currently in MotoGP. This Sunday...they're back to finish the job! Yes, we're going all the way to number one this week as we bring our mid-season Rider Reviews to an end. According to my notes, we've got (in no particular order): a semi-stoned maniac, a warrior monk, space aliens and the reason Yamaha isn't going to flog a dead bike. That has got to make you curious, right? So hit play and cheers! Want more...

Quick question before we continue: Are you now, are were you at any point in the last year, a MotoGP-rider? If so, you probably shouldn’t be listening to this. In fact, I think we can all agree that you should probably just turn off this device and come back next week. Don’t worry, there’s fun Patreon-episodes that you can listen to. I’d offer them for free, but you’re riding bikes around the world while I’m writing podcast descriptions, so I know you can miss it. Go listen now, you’ll have ...

Remember the Cybermen, from Doctor Who? Scary races of machine-men and living computers who share all their experiences in a massive network. And that makes them really daunting, because any trick you might use in a fight against them only works once. Fool one once, and all of them learn and adapt. Your victories only help them slowly iterate towards perfection, all through data, data and more data. Why am I waffling on about sci-fi when we just had a spectacular race? Because the Cyber...

Welcome to Sachsenring, where riders face an education in teutonic terror in every turn. Eighteen riders on the grid, and ten make it to the final finish. It's crash central down here! But what would motorsport be without a little danger? That's what Mat and Peter wonder as they take a look at Sunday's race. Are the Marquez brothers holding back in their fights on the tarmac, or is Alex just really good at calculating the risk-reward ratio when it comes to attacking his brother? And Marc hims...

It's happened: MotoGP is now the property of Liberty Media, owner of Formula 1. So, what now? Well, things are definitely going to change and that might not be a bad thing. Change is life, right? The only question is which changes are necessary, which are wanted and which are inevitable. To find an answer to this, Mat and Peter turn to the one and only Dennis Noyes. Dennis was a racer, he's one hell of a journalist and commentator, and he's right here with us for a little ch...

"I cannot praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out and sees her adversary, but slinks out of the race where that immortal garland is to be run for, not without dust and heat." -John Milton, London, 1644 "I'm going to ride my fast machine!" -Franco Morbidelli, Assen, 2025 It's always awesome to be in Assen, and this year was no exception as the Dutch track celebrated it's Tourist Trophy Centennial. Luckily, the race itself proved worthy of the...

Well, that was an extremely exciting and unpredictable race...until Marc Márquez woke up and showed everyone how it's done, again. Yes, nr. 93 achieved his 93th victory in his archrival's backyard, while his brother Alex fights off Bagnaia and a surprisingly competitive Di Giannantonio. So what else is there to talk about? Well, we've got a bunch of knobheads booing, a 'dead bike riding' and penalties escaliting into punishments. And a lot more, too, but you're just going to have to ha...

A new rider has appeared in MotoGP! Well, he's only new if you haven't watched the WorldSBK in years and he's not really appearing yet – he’s only coming over next year. Nonetheless, long-running rumours about Toprak Razgatlioglu making the step to MotoGP have finally been confirmed this week as the Turkish Tornado signs a contract with Pramac Yamaha. That means there's lots to be excited for. Not only because his riding style is anything but boring, but also because this move coincides...

Ah, Aragon! They used to shoot westerns here, you know. The wide empty desert was the perfect backdrop for spaghetti western action. Cowboy versus cowboy, gunslingers living dying by the grace of their hair-trigger fingers and lightning-quick reflexes. And maybe the spirit of those films never really went away, because now we’ve got some old-fashioned drama like rival brothers and the return of a rider who was really fighting some technical difficulties. But was that really all th...

Answers, answers! Going cheap, barely used, fresh off the press! Good answers to tricky MotoGP questions! Come get them while they're hot! Earlier this week, we asked our Patrons to send us their questions. This time, we thought, maybe we'll succeed in answering all of them? I mean, how many questions could you all possibly have for us? Turns out that the answer is: A whole lot! Sixty seven, at the time of writing. Did Mat and Peter get through all of them? No, because then this podcast...

At the time of writing, it is 02.00 AM in Kyoto and the only thing keeping me awake is leftover adrenaline from watching pure madness on the tarmac. Silverstone is an outlier, this we know. But this time? This time, nobody ended up where they thought they'd be when the lights first turn green. Red flags, infernal ride height devices and an incredibly competitive Honda are just some of the unexpected turns that showed themselves at the UK's twisty track. Today is opposite day, the world ...

It has four cylinders. It won ten world championships, claimed first in over a hundred races and still holds the world record for longest uninterrupted streak with twenty-two wins in a row. It's the Honda NSR500, and it might be the meanest, fastest two-wheeling machine of the 20th century. But it really didn't start out like that. Turn back the clock to those first few years, and this modern legend looked more like a lame duck. The weight distribution was horrible, it took Freddy Spenc...

Sometimes, MotoGP is all about the numbers. Like the number 23 - the amount of races Ducati would have had to win in order to set a new world record. Or the number 1 - the amount they came up short. That bit was courtesy of Number 5, a.k.a. Johann Zarco, the man driving the home crowd wild through a spectacular performance. And going wild they should, as it's been 73 years since a Frenchman claimed victory at Le Mans! And then there's the weather, the tires and of course the crashes, in...

For the first time, we’re going back for seconds! That’s right, it’s time for a sequel as we go back to our history of Ducati’s Desmosedici and take care of our unfinished business. Haven’t heard the first part yet? Then quickly go here to change that! So, last time we saw how the incredibly talent of Casey Stoner brought victory to the Italian manufacturer. But nothing last forever, and now we’re going to see Ducati take a tumble from the top of the world to one of it’s all-time lows. ...

Ah Jerez, we’ve missed you! The Spanish track never fails to be a season highlight, and this year was no exception. Also no surprise is that the winner is, of course, Marquez. Except it’s not the one you might have thought, because he might have to give his head a wobble. Yes, it’s that kind of race where an ugly surprise for the champion results in every other competitor displaying their raw talent in a bid for the title. You want to know how the championship is going? A rumble like th...

If you want to know the secret to Ducati's success, it's these four words: desmodromic distribution, sixteen valves. Or, if we call it by its more common Italian shorthand: Desmosedici, the name of Ducati's killer MotoGP-bikes that have been absolutely dominating these last few years. But it wasn't always like that. There was a time when Ducati was not the reigning champion, but a worn-out shell of a manufacturer that was about to lose it all. It's a fascinating story, and abs...

We've got a scoop! Curious? We'll give you a hint: this episode contains exclusive news! But what is it all about? Well, that's the question! Maybe it's about Honda - have they found themselves a new rider for a new era? Or perhaps this is about a new contender coming through from World Superbike, as told to us from a live witness? Or perhaps none? Perhaps both? Only one way to find out, eh? And then there's the race in Losail, where floodlights glisten off the dragon's teeth that guard...

Dearly beloved, It is with heavy heart that we gather to say our final goodbyes to a legend: the Yamaha YZR-M1. Its life seemed short to us, but way too long to others. After a long struggle with a clinical lack of competitive edge and a distinct lack of aero, its family at Yamaha has decided to pull the plug and let its beloved inline-engined legend pass with dignity. The YZR-M1 is survived and will be missed by its V4 successors. You are hereby cordially invited to attend the ...

Apologies! Something went horribly wrong last night with the recording, and it took as a long time to fix it. Mat's in Austin, Peter's in Portimão and we completely forgot to sacrifice a chicken to the wifi-gods...the end result was a slight catastrophe where we ended up recording at least one of your host over the phone. Just imagine Peter sitting in the corner of a dark hotel room with a telephone in one fist and an old fashioned recorder in the other, and now you're getting it. ...

You know how we sometimes promise we won't talk so much about tires? Well, we lie! You might have heard about Pirelli moving in and replacing Michelin as the official tire of MotoGP in 2027. And maybe you wonder how much influence a single change like this could possibly have. After all, they're just pieces of rubber - shouldn't we have basically perfected the art of the tire by now? Well, imagine it like this. Here you have a MotoGP bike, pure metal and technology that just wants to go...

Britpop has the Gallagher brothers. Tennis has the Williams sisters. Video games have the Super Mario Bros. And MotoGP? It's the second race of the season and nobody is getting close to the Marquez brothers, bringing Ducati to dominate the track. Which begs the question: is MotoGP boring now? It's a tricky problem, that's for sure. What fun is a game when the winner is already basically determined before the match even starts? Or are we selling the sport short...

Oh, you knew it was coming! Just admit it. First it was December and we got you Kevin Schwantz. Did you really think we could do that, and then not invite Wayne Rainey? Come on, be real! Yes, we've got Wayne with us this week so you just know this is going to be fireworks. But it's not all about legendary rivalries and racing so hard you can feel your teeth chatter - it's also about being really clever and technical in ways that the rest of the world sometimes doesn't underst...

It feels good to be back! The first race of a brand new season is in the pocket and it promises to be a very interesting season, indeed. We've got the Márquez brothers, both on Ducati's and both in front. Maybe not a surprise if you're Marc, but definitely a promising feat if you're Alex. Have we been underestimating the younger Márquez? And then there's Ai Ogura, the rookie who takes our breath away, and Jack Miller taking his brain out and showing that the right rider really can...

You've got questions. We've got answers. Let's make a podcast! Yes, this week we're once again opening up a big bag of mail to do some listener questions! Which listeners, you might ask? Our Patreons, of course, because they're awesome and you should really consider joining them. Then you, too, might ask questions like: Who takes the blame when a slow rider has a fast teammate? Will the future be electric, or is it running on biofuels? How much can a bikeframe bend if bikes was build to...

Ready for racing? So is everyone, but there’s one more test we need to talk about first – and it’s an event that shows some very interesting changes... Welcome to Buriram, Thailand. It’s the last chance to get everything in order before the big circus starts. If you’re a competitor, this is the moment you most want your tech to be not just cutting edge, but also on the exact right side of familiar so you can be in complete control of it. Unless you’re Ducati, and you just decide to go b...

We're back, we're back, we're finally back at the track! It might be a few weeks until the next season officially kicks off, but Mat and Peter need their fix yesterday. The solution? Send them to Sepang, where every team is getting their last tests in before the championship starts. It's hot, it's humid and when the rider kicks their machine into high gear, the power and the vibration will shakes your sternum all the way from the pitlane to the cheap seats. Man, it's good to be back! ...

Beattie. Doohan. Rossi. What do these legends all have in common? Well, they all had their bikes worked on by Alex Briggs, for starters. This week, we're interviewing one of MotoGP's old veteran mechanics. He's the man who saw 26 seasons and multiple championship victories before retiring in 2020, and he's got some great stories for us... This week, join us as we discover what it was like to work with some of MotoGP's greatest riders and what drove them. Want to know why Doohan needed a diffe...

We've got another guest! This week, we're calling Frankie Carchedi. You might have heard of him - he's one of the legendary crew chiefs currently working in MotoGP, winning the 2020 championship with Joan Mir and working with Marc Márquez last year. And since one of our hosts has experience as a crew chief himself, we've got plenty of questions! So, how do you deal with a rider's ego without shattering it? What tells you if a disappointing result is an issue with the rider, the tech or ...

We've got a special guest this week, and if you've seen the title of this podcast you can probably guess who it is... ...that's right, it's the return of the legendary Livio Suppo! So, what's on the menu today? Well, we're gearing up for what promises to be a spectacular season and we don't know what the outcome will be. There's top riders being positioned into intense rivalries, there's old paddock mainstays like KTM in dire, dire straits and there's technology that can make all the diffe...

Remember December? If not, don't worry, it's all a little blurry for us as well. Well, just before the holidays we discussed the top twelve riders and what the upcoming season might have in store from them. Which is all well and good, but what about the bikes? WHAT ABOUT THE BIKES?! Well, don't worry because this week Mat and Peter are dusting off the old crystal ball to look at what MotoGP's next season might look like from a more...mechanical point of view. We're going to look at each manu...

STOP! DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS AUDIO! THIS IS MEANT TO BE A VIDEO. GO WATCH IT ON OUR PATREON OR ON YOUTUBE! Okay, still here? Hello, this is producer Sam. Normally, I'd be writing a description for our new episode here, but we're kicking off the new year with a very special scoop and we're going to need video to show it to you. I've put the audio here, but if you choose to listen to it rather than view it you will probably end up being incredibly confused. So go to our Patreon or YouTube, pres...

Hey everyone! This week, I'm afraid that Mat and Peter are lost in the late-December limbo. So instead, we're giving all of you a holiday present in the form of a (formerly) Patreon-exclusive post. This interview with Casey was first published in March, and was one of the first things we uploaded exclusively for our subscribers. Like this? Then why not start 2025 with a subscription to our Patreon, and get cool stuff like this on the regular? Trust us – you’ll love it! We'll be back with you ...

Ho ho ho! Are you feeling the holiday spirit yet? No? Well, have we got just the thing for you: a visit from Father Christmas himself! No, not Saint Nick – we’re talking about the one and only Kevin Schwantz, wearing a funny little red hat!* Yes, we gave Kevin a ring and he picked up the phone for us. A few minutes later we were talking about his racing career, and before you know it there’s some pretty cool stories being shared. Some of them are about fighting for your life on a machin...

This week, we're getting ready for the holiday season as we count down the Twelve Nights Riders of Christmas! Yes, Mat and Peter have been making a list (and checking it twice) from Bezzecchi to Martin, and they’re about to let you know who’s been naughty or nice… So, who rides with the strongest emotions? Who has the most fighting spirit, the most crashes, the most wins and the most potential? Who should be proud and full of good cheer, and who might have been slacking a bit and finds...

This week, we asked our Patreon-supporters to send in their questions and they did not disappoint. For example: How do factories look at independent teams? Was there ever a crash so bad, it made Peter and Mat reconsider racing? How do you talk to a rider who just messed up their race? Whtiny mistakes can have the biggest consequences for a rider's career? And what does Peter mean when he talks about 'Rider Intelligence'? The answers to all the above and way, way more are found inside this ex...

Oh boy, something went wrong this week! No, we’re not talking about the financial trouble KTM finds itself in – although I promise we’ll touch on that in a bit – but about our microphones. We’ve got it fixed for next week, but this episode the quality is in the lovely tone of ‘tin can’. Sorry about that. However, don’t go away just yet, because we’ve got a guest! This week, we’re talking about the future of MotoGP. That’s the financial future, to be precise. With Liberty Media buying th...

This week, we’re staying at the Barcelona paddock to report on the big test. That’s right: it’s been at least hours since a new champion was crowned, so testing for the next season can begin! So, what will Mat and Peter find and does it get them excited? Well, there’s some stuff that looks absolutely amazing. And it’s right next to the stuff that will probably give us headaches. But what’s what, and why so? The only way to find out is to listen! Also, get ready for guest appearanc...

We've got a champion! Big congrats to Jorge Martin - and now it's time to party! Look, I could write a very long description here, but we all know the drill. It's the end of the season, Mat and Peter are in the paddock and there's beer being served. Care to join us in a 'live' celebration? Here's what you do. First, try to answer the following questions. Your job is to guess who: ...commits a crime against God and Drink ...loves to kill everyone ...doesn't mind 20 punters in your pit ...k...

It’s back to Barcelona as we count down the days till MotoGP 2024 reaches its conclusion. The question, of course, is what will happen and where it will take place. Luckily we’ve got a Peter, so let’s ask him! And luckily for Peter, he already wrote about that very thing. But that was for a different part of the year, with different weather, different humidity, different tires and different stakes. So he ended up having to do the work again, anyhow. Sorry! (Oh, and as always: don'...