Can MotoGP's newest team make Grand Prix racing relevant in the USA again?

Francesco Bagnaia's win in the Austrian GP was his third in a row - but did it do anything to make the success of Fabio Quartararo's title defence less likely?That is the central topic of the post-Red Bull Ring edition of The Race MotoGP Podcast, with host Toby Moody back and joined by Simon Patterson and Valentin Khorounzhiy.The crew discuss the quality of Quartararo's run to second place, whether there has been a change to Bagnaia and the importance of Jack Miller's role as Bagnaia's impressively loyal rear gunner.They also delve into Aleix Espargaro's weekend, as well as another brutal grand prix for both Honda - with the recovering Marc Marquez in attendance - and Suzuki, which now has Joan Mir on the injured list.Finally, Toby gives his verdict on the 2023 sprint race plans...Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeFor MotoGP news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22 Aug 20221h

MotoGP's all-new sprint race format, to be used at every weekend of the 2023 season, is discussed in a special episode of The Race MotoGP Podcast.The Race's MotoGP writers Valentin Khorounzhiy and Simon Patterson give their takes on the shock news and their opinions on sprint races.They also talk about the known specifics of the format and how it compares to F1's sprint weekend, and which riders may benefit as a result in 2023.Riders' reactions to the news, ranging from happy to annoyed but with nearly all of them surprised, are also touched upon, as is the fact that a MotoGP rider is back on the public agenda as a result.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeFor MotoGP news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20 Aug 202232min

The two contenders for the vacant Ducati 2023 MotoGP ride, Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin, are refusing to make the decision at all simple for the Bologna factory.In the pre-Red Bull Ring of The Race MotoGP Podcast, host Toby Moody is joined by Simon Patterson and Valentin Khorounzhiy to discuss the dilemma facing Ducati, and why Bastianini and Martin are almost equally viable options despite being very different MotoGP riders.The crew also discuss the role Francesco Bagnaia's status may play in the choice, and debate what Ducati should do from not only a sporting perspective, but in terms of keeping the riders in question happy and willing to commit to its for the longer-term.A host of reader questions - including whether MotoGP riders are amiable and how much riders actually learn about rival MotoGP bikes before making a team switch - is tackled in the second half of the episode.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeFor MotoGP news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

16 Aug 20221h 5min

The Silverstone MotoGP race provided one of the closest finishes ever - with the top nine split by only four seconds. But was the race actually any good, and why were so few people there to witness it?Host Toby Moody is joined by Simon Patterson, Valentin Khorounzhiy and special guest Josh Suttill to discuss the merits of the 20-lap contest and the low fan attendance figures.They also talk about the state of the title race after Silverstone, and whether winner Francesco Bagnaia can be seen as back in the hunt - with Aleix Espargaro hurting himself and Fabio Quartararo having an uncharacteristically muted weekend.Honda's continued MotoGP travails against the backdrop of its Suzuka 8 Hours success are another topic of conversation, as is Johann Zarco's latest pole-to-heartbreak outing.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeFor MotoGP news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 Aug 20221h 13min

Are the top riders in modern MotoGP as good as the greats who came before, or did Marc Marquez's injury rob them of a chance to prove themselves?The relative merit of the 2022 grid, top to bottom, is discussed in the final summer break edition of The Race MotoGP Podcast.Host Toby Moody is joined by Simon Patterson and Valentin Khorounzhiy to reminisce on how the MotoGP roster has been transformed, and on what that means for the current crop. Also discussed is how the premier-class grid compares to that of the World Superbike championship.They also delve into the top MotoGP-linked names set to miss out on a grid slot in 2023 because of a talent logjam, chief among them defending WSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu and Moto2's joint points leaders Celestino Vietti and Augusto Fernandez.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeFor MotoGP news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Aug 20221h 4min

As the MotoGP summer break rumbles on, The Race MotoGP Podcast returns with another listener questions special - but this time with a retro theme.The man who was for so many the voice of 800s and 990s, Toby Moody, is joined by Simon Patterson to reminisce on a golden period for motorcycle sport, with the duo answering questions on all manner of topics, including the 2002 season, the late, great Daijiro Kato and - of course - Valentino Rossi.There are also questions on the best tracks of the 800 and 990 eras that are no longer used today, the riders from that era who failed to live up to their potential, and a great hypothetical question about how Casey Stoner would have coped going up against Marc Marquez...If you'd like to submit a question for an upcoming show, send a voicenote or sound file to podcasts@the-race.com and we might answer it on the podcast!Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeFor MotoGP news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 Juli 20221h 9min

This week’s pod is a classic two-parter, starting off with some quick-fire reaction to the news that Alex Rins will ride a Honda for LCR from 2023, as part of a two-year agreement between Rins, the team and Honda Racing Corporation. Simon Patterson and Valentin Khorounzhiy join guest host Matt Beer to give their views on the move, before regular Host Toby Moody sits down for a very special chat with legendary crew chief Tom Jojic. In a wide-ranging chat the Canadian shares his experiences of a life in the MotoGP pit lane working for the likes of Team Roberts, Kawasaki and KTM. There are great stories about Kenny Roberts, the inner workings of HRC, the complexities of being a crew chief and much more.Next week’s show is a listener questions retro special! To ask your question, send us a voicenote to podcasts@the-race.comFollow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeFor MotoGP news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 Juli 20221h 18min

As MotoGP's summer break continues, The Race MotoGP Podcast crew tackle another big batch of listener questions on the latest episode.Host Toby Moody is joined by Simon Patterson and Valentin Khorounzhiy to respond to your submissions, which cover Pedro Acosta's status as the next big thing, the Yamaha decisions that led to it losing its satellite team and whether Johann Zarco could make a play for this year's MotoGP title.Francesco Bagnaia's car crash and failed alcohol test is also touched upon, with the crew explaining what action they want to see from either MotoGP or Bagnaia's employer Ducati.Amongst the other questions is a call for Moody, Patterson and Khorounzhiy to each pick out the non-rider staff members they would choose if they were to start MotoGP teams. Who will they go for? Find out the answer to this and many other questions on this week's pod.And if you'd like to submit a question for our upcoming retro-focused listener questions special, send a voicenote or sound file to podcasts@the-race.com and we might answer it on the show!Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeFor MotoGP news, analysis and must-read features visit the-race.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12 Juli 20221h 17min