Title fight tide turns + Hamilton to MotoGP?

The 2023 MotoGP world championship battle flipped yet again during the Indonesian Grand Prix weekend, as Jorge Martin crashed out of a commanding GP race lead the day after his sprint race win had moved him to the head of the championship standings for the first time.That allowed Pecco Bagnaia to take the race win and retake the points lead.But should he feel triumphant given he did that from 13th on the grid, or just relieved at getting a gift given how much of a mess his weekend had looked up to that point across his Q1 exit and lack of sprint progress?That's one of the many debates Simon Patterson, Valentin Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer have on the Mandalika episode of The Race MotoGP Podcast.The latest element of the Marc Marquez 2024 move fallout is also discussed in depth, and this time the focus is on the curveball Honda's thrown by pursuing a pair of current Aprilia riders just when it seemed its solution to filling its Marquez gap was already under its nose. There's not a lot of agreement among our panellists on the wisdom of what seems to be unfolding there.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

16 Okt 20231h 1min

We asked you what you wanted to know about Marc Marquez's Honda exit, Gresini Ducati move, wider MotoGP future and all the repercussions - and you had plenty of questions for us.So Simon Patterson, Valentin Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer attempt to answer them on The Race MotoGP Podcast.Was Alex Marquez's early move to the team his brother is now joining the start of a secret long-term plan? How will Gresini have to change to accomodate Marquez? Why does anyone actually want to go to Honda now?And is Marquez already committed to KTM for 2025 and is that bad news for Jack Miller? We tackle all that and more.And with the MotoGP 2023 news flow relentless at the moment, we also discuss KTM's decision to commit to Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez as its 2024 Gas Gas line-up at the expense of Pol Espargaro. That's a saga it's fair to say our panel has not been impressed by. News of outside title contender Marco Bezzecchi's ill-timed injury also features.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Okt 20231h 3min

It's actually happening: Marc Marquez is leaving Honda and will soon be announced as a 2024 Gresini Ducati MotoGP rider.The greatest rider of his era, walking out of a legendary and once-dominant team mid-contract to join what is currently Ducati's lowest-priority team to ride a year-old bike.Simon Patterson, Valentin Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer debate everything that has happened to lead to this seismic moment on an extra episode of The Race MotoGP Podcast - and the seeds of it go back further than you might realise.As well as reliving all that's gone wrong at Honda, we also look forward to how Marquez's Ducati future might look. Is Cal Crutchlow right to predict immediate MotoGP domination? And how will Ducati's existing library of star riders handle Marquez arriving in their midst?We also make no secret of our excitement over what this move means for MotoGP's future, make some predictions for what Honda's future looks like (including a punt both for when Joan Mir might win a title for it and when Marquez might return!) and reveal the consequences of Honda's announcement for Simon's dog and Val's shopping.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 Okt 20231h 3min

Any lingering doubts about the 2023 MotoGP world championship fight were erased over an ultra-tense Japanese Grand Prix weekend that ended with Pecco Bagnaia's lead over Jorge Martin down to just three points.And this wasn't because of some calamity for Bagnaia, but a pair of straight-fight defeats in close competition across wildly varying weather conditions.So as Simon Patterson, Valentin Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer debate on The Race MotoGP Podcast, we really do have a proper head to head title fight coming up over the remaining six rounds.As well as how both protagonists rode at Motegi, our panel discuss whether it's really sustainable for Martin's team Pramac to keep this up given its satellite status and what Ducati might do with its 2024 rider line-up if Martin actually beats Bagnaia to the title.Speaking of 2024 Ducati riders, the latest developments and rumours over Marc Marquez's future get plenty of airtime.There's also analysis of what could've been a very significant weekend for KTM's prospect, while also producing yet more discord over it's five-into-four 2024 rider dilemma.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Okt 202352min

Just when it seemed he'd limited the championship damage caused by his terrifying Barcelona crash, defending champion Pecco Bagnaia threw the title race open again with a massive error in the inaugural Indian Grand Prix.Simon Patterson, Valentin Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer debate how costly that might be on The Race MotoGP Podcast. Might this be a mistake too far for Bagnaia, given Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin's growing form and confidence?There had been plenty of uncertainty about MotoGP's first visit to India all season, and Simon has a lot of tales to share about the fraught process of getting there and some of the quirks of the weekend (from striking marshals to monkeys in the pits) but is also convinced the Buddh race can actually become a MotoGP season highlight.We also discuss a surprise return to form for three past champions and the latest twists in the Marc Marquez 2024 ride saga as it goes into its potential crunch week.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25 Sep 202358min

In our latest edition of 'Toby Talks To', host Toby Moody sits down for a chat with Carlos Checa, a rider who raced in 125s, 250s and 500s as the top class morphed into the category we know as MotoGP in 2002. The popular Spaniard opens up on the highs and lows of his career, including his two 500cc Grand Prix victories for Honda on home soil at Barcelona and Jarama, and the Superbike world title he claimed after moving on from MotoGP. He also discusses what it was like to be team mates with Valentino Rossi, and gives his opinion on countryman Marc Marquez's current plight with Honda - including his view on what he should do next...Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18 Sep 20231h 5min

Marc Marquez dominated yet another MotoGP weekend in off-track terms as he swept the paddock into a 'will he/won't he?'' frenzy at Misano with four days of speculation over whether he was about to break his factory Honda contract to join brother Alex on one of Gresini's year-old Ducatis for 2024.Then he tested Honda's 2024 bike on Monday and that prospect suddenly seemed a whole lot more realistic.Simon Patterson, Valentin Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer delve into all the drama Marquez created and assess the likelihood of the Gresini move actually happening in the Misano episode of The Race MotoGP Podcast.They explain why their levels of scepticism fluctuated through the weekend, and what the consequences might be for the rest of the Ducati line-up if Marquez made the leap. And our panel makes it pretty clear what outcome they all want to see from this storyline too.Another past champion at a struggling Japanese manufacturer team gets some attention too - Fabio Quartararo may not be leaving Yamaha before 2024, but is he going to spend 2024 trying to get out?The San Marino GP itself is also discussed - with some feisty debate over whether Jorge Martin's flawless domination was actually that impressive given how battered his main rivals were from the Catalan GP.Dani Pedrosa's amazing (but not amazing enough to satisfy one panellist) comeback and Takumi Takahashi's embarrassing one feature as well.And we also pay tribute to IRTA chief Mike Trimby after his sudden death in the middle of the race weekend, and explain just how huge his contribution to modern MotoGP was.Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12 Sep 20231h 6min

Pecco Bagnaia's smooth progress towards another MotoGP world championship title was jeopardised in terrifying fashion when he was hit by Brad Binder's KTM after landing in the middle of the track following a first-lap high-side in the Catalan Grand Prix.Incredibly, it looks like Bagnaia escaped without any broken bones and may not even miss a race.The Race MotoGP Podcast panel Simon Patterson, Valentin Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer delve into exactly how the crash happened and the elements of fortune that meant the outcome wasn't much worse, as well as making their feelings on one aspect of the TV coverage of the aftermath very, very clear.Seconds before Bagnaia's crash unfolded. his team-mate Enea Bastianini triggered a pile-up of his own. Bastianini's riding, penalty, injury and what it means for his so far very tough time in the works Ducati team are discussed too.Away from all the Ducati drama, we also assess Aprilia's outstanding weekend, and where it goes from here. Does it have the riders to mount a title challenge? There's a bit of a difference of opinion over that...Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookCheck out our latest videos on YouTubeDownload our app on iOS or Android Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 Sep 20231h 10min