The Race MotoGP Podcast

Aprilia shows Ducati what it’s missing 01.06.2026 56min

An Italian rider wins MotoGP’s Italian Grand Prix for an Italian team - that used to be Ducati’s story, but this time it was Aprilia and Marco Bezzecchi who ruled Mugello.It wasn’t a flawless weekend for Bezzecchi though, and there were complications elsewhere at Aprilia - for instance Raul Fernandez’s dark mood after his sprint win.Val Khorounzhiy joins Matt Beer on The Race MotoGP Podcast to report from the Mugello paddock, as they also tackle Marc Marquez’s return to action and the latest hint of some form of Pecco Bagnaia resurgence.Join The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marc Marquez is back... can he still be 2026 champion? 28.05.2026 56min

Marc Marquez is back in the MotoGP field for the Italian Grand Prix after his latest surgery, and in his absence his championship situation hasn't actually got that much worse.In a special edition of The Race MotoGP Podcast, Val joins Matt from the Mugello paddock to assess Marquez's mood and title chances as he returns. And they assess what might result from another MotoGP comeback from someone much more unexpected, who's been away much longer: Cal Crutchlow.This episode also contains the latest of our behind the scenes at Ducati segments in partnership with Lenovo, in which Simon joins Davide Tardozzi and David Attisano in the Ducati museum, surrounded by 40 years' worth of World Superbike and grand prix machinery to talk through how data tech has evolved over the decades.Join The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What MotoGP must learn from terrifying Catalan GP crashes 18.05.2026 59min

The outcomes of MotoGP’s twice red-flagged 2026 Catalan Grand Prix could have been so much worse, with Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco beginning their recoveries from the injuries they sustained in their terrifying pair of crashes.Simon Patterson, Val Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer try to make some sense of it all in The Race MotoGP Podcast at the end of a weekend that felt on the edge right from practice.A weekend of strange pace, crashes, shoving and penalties at championship leader Aprilia is also analysed.Plus why Joan Mir really didn’t care about losing his podium to a tyre pressure penalty and a little bit of optimism about how good the racing actually is right now when things run smoothly.Join The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Marquez's injury transforms the MotoGP title race 11.05.2026 1j 6min

An Aprilia riders' title looks almost inevitable after a French Grand Prix weekend in which it locked out the podium - and Marc Marquez went out injured.Valentin Khorounzhiy is joined by Simon Patterson and Jordan Moreland to discuss Marquez's latest, likely-insurmountable 2026 title setback, and the crucial information he himself had received about his shoulder injury.Plus, who is in better shape in this new-look title fight - Marco Bezzecchi or Jorge Martin? And how will Aprilia handle the new reality of the championship.We also give props to Ai Ogura and Fabio Quartararo, and discuss Pecco Bagnaia's latest DNF and Fabio Di Giannantonio's reported move to KTM. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will MotoGP miss wildcards after banning them for 2027? 06.05.2026 55min

MotoGP is banning wildcards for the advent of its new rules in 2027 - but why, and how much will they be missed?Val Khorounzhiy is joined by Simon Patterson and 'wildcard' Jordan Moreland on this latest edition of The Race MotoGP Podcast, as the crew delve into the modern realities of the MotoGP wildcard and debate your takes (and your picks for the most memorable wildcards in MotoGP).They also touch on another injury setback for Maverick Vinales (replaced by Jonas Folger at Le Mans) and what it means for his 2027 outlook, and preview a likely weather-affected French Grand Prix weekend. Quelle surprise!Join The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ducati wins Spanish GP - but how bad is Marc Marquez's latest title blow? 27.04.2026 1j 9min

Marc Marquez claimed one of his unlikeliest wins ever during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend - yet his title hopes look more troubled than ever four rounds into the season.Matt Beer, Simon Patterson and Val Khorounzhiy discuss Marquez's situation, how much longer he'll be racing for and whether Jerez showed the Ducati is actually a match for the Aprilia.They also talk through Marquez's sprint-winning move, the value of flag-to-flag races, Fabio Di Giannantonio's superb form and rising market value and Fabio Quartararo's increasing exasperation at Yamaha among other topics.Join The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The real cost of Vinales’ new injury blow and no room for Bulega? 22.04.2026 47min

MotoGP 2026 resumes at Jerez this weekend but it’s doing so without Maverick Vinales due to his latest fitness blow - and, as Simon, Val and Matt explain on The Race MotoGP Podcast, that’s particularly terrible timing for his career.They also debate whether riders have too much power over their own fitness decisions, and whether MotoGP needs a totally different approach to stand-in rider provision.Plus with Val fresh from a weekend at the World Superbike Championship, they discuss why its crushingly dominant points leader Nicolo Bulega’s MotoGP chances are looking more complicated but also why WSBK isn’t exactly crying out for MotoGP rejects either.Join The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more - enter code '2026' at checkout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is the most valuable rider in MotoGP right now? 18.04.2026 1j 29min

Much of the MotoGP grid for 2027 and beyond appears to have been sorted behind the scenes, with more of the dominos falling into play as the 'restart' of the season approaches.But while factories and riders maneouvre in secret, who are truly the most valuable MotoGP riders in the short- and medium-term - and who would get the first phone calls if the entire grid was reset?The Race MotoGP Podcast's crew seeks to paint a picture by borriwing a 'draft' format from other sports, with Val Khorounzhiy, Simon Patterson, editor Jordan Moreland and special guest Eden Hannigan choosing their optimal MotoGP line-ups.Would Marc Marquez, Fabio Quartararo or Pedro Acosta be the first choice in a true free-for-all? Does a bike manufacturer with a proven track record have more pull than a 'star' rider? And which riders look surplus to requirements for the next generation of MotoGP rules?This and more as we put together our mock 2027-2028 MotoGP grid.Join The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more - enter code '2026' at checkout.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠X⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Debating MotoGP's best and worst rider moves 08.04.2026 1j 15min

With MotoGP on an unscheduled spring break, we figured it was time to revisit the modern-era history of blockbuster rider moves - particularly those that dramatically changed careers, for better or worse.Can anything top Valentino Rossi's Yamaha pivot? And did he stay a Yamaha rider too long? And how should history really judge Ducati's big-money move for Jorge Lorenzo?This and more - much more - in our latest episode of The Race MotoGP Podcast.Enjoy 90% off your first month with The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more - enter code '2026' at checkout.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠X⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marc Marquez's 2026 MotoGP problems are getting worse 30.03.2026 57min

The Circuit of the Americas was supposed to properly kickstart Marc Marquez's MotoGP 2026 title bid - but instead Aprilia only pulled further clear.Matt Beer, Simon Patterson and Val Khorounzhiy dissect a weekend in which usual COTA dominator Marquez never really looked like beating the Aprilias, even without a major error on Saturday.They discuss Marquez's issues with the bike and with his physical fitness, and Jorge Martin's emergence as a genuine title threat within an Aprilia structure that should in theory be rallied around five-in-a-row winner Marco Bezzecchi.Plus, a look at Joan Mir's double DNF, Pecco Bagnaia's latest rollercoaster weekend and Toprak Razgatlioglu's inspired start to life in MotoGP being concealed by Yamaha struggles.Enjoy 90% off your first month with The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more - enter code '2026' at checkout.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠X⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s going on with MotoGP’s frozen 2027 rider market 27.03.2026 56min

After a wild pre-season flurry of news about riders agreeing 2027 MotoGP deals and big moves, we’ve had barely any actual announcements of those deals being official.So what’s going on? Why the stalling, and does it mean any of the deals are in jeopardy (one in particular is raising a lot of fans’ eyebrows right now)?Simon, Val and Matt explore the latest news and rumours from the paddock about the 2027 line-ups in a bonus episode of The Race MotoGP Podcast recorded on the eve of the Grand Prix of the Americas at Austin.Enjoy 90% off your first month with The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is to blame for Brazilian MotoGP chaos? 24.03.2026 52min

MotoGP's first Brazilian Grand Prix in 22 years was an absolute wild weekend - with a litany of dramas ranging from floods to a sinkhole on the main straight to an abrupt shortening of the race, plus riders picking lumps of churned-up asphalt out of their boots.Simon Patterson recounts all the twists of his week at Goiania to Val Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer on The Race MotoGP Podcast, and they discuss where blame should be put and what needs to be done to put things right for 2027.And they also debate the implications of the commanding Aprilia 1-2 on track for the title fight.Enjoy 90% off your first month with The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will MotoGP teams regret 2027 signings already? 10.03.2026 57min

MotoGP’s 2027 rider market moved VERY early… and then the season-opener might’ve come as a shock to some teams banking on their new signings having put old problems behind them.Messy at best, abject at worst starts to 2026 for Pecco Bagnaia, Alex Marquez and Maverick Vinales in particular left many in The Race Members’ Club asking whether teams had jumped too soon to nail down next year’s line-ups.Val Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer give their take on The Race MotoGP Podcast - both on the riders with probably-secure 2027 futures who’ve started 2026 badly, and the riders with uncertain futures who’ve begun this year very well.Enjoy 90% off your first month with The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are Ducati and Marc Marquez in trouble in their MotoGP 2026 title defence? 01.03.2026 1j

Aprilia beat the brakes off MotoGP's usual dominant force Ducati in a fascinating 2026 season opener - so how worried should Ducati and star rider Marc Marquez be after a dispiriting Thai Grand Prix?Simon Patterson and Val Khorounzhiy discuss the chief storylines from Buriram, including the last-second deflation of a weekend Marquez looked to have salvaged, the source of Aprilia's dominance and a potential career-best weekend from new championship leader Pedro Acosta.Plus, why did Yamaha keep its riders from the media on Sunday - and how bad was its 2026 bike's competitive debut? And what of rookies Diogo Moreira and Toprak Razgatlioglu?Enjoy 90% off your first month with The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our 2026 MotoGP season predictions 25.02.2026 56min

This might not be the most unpredictable season MotoGP has ever gone into, but there is very good reason to expect a much more open and intriguing 2026 campaign compared to 2025 - as Simon Patterson, Val Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer explain on The Race MotoGP Podcast.Why some form of title fight is potentially on and who’ll be giving Marc Marquez the most headaches is our main topic, and we also make our predictions for who’ll make the biggest improvement over 2025 and who’ll go in the other direction.Plus Matt has a few ‘one-line-only answers’ curveball prediction questions for Simon and Val too.Enjoy 90% off your first month with The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Winners and losers from 2026 MotoGP testing 22.02.2026 45min

MotoGP’s 2026 pre-season is over, so with the shakedown and two main tests complete and the season-opening Thai Grand Prix looming next weekend, who’s got most (and least) to smile about?Simon Patterson, Val Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer debate that as The Race MotoGP Podcast delves into both the data and the vibes from the final days of winter running.Enjoy a 7-day free trial to The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our take on MotoGP's axing of Philip Island + Which riders might be squeezed off the 2027 grid? 20.02.2026 52min

MotoGP is dropping one of its most iconic and beloved tracks as Phillip Island loses the Australian Grand Prix to the Adelaide street track. But is it really feasible to make Adelaide MotoGP-safe, and is the long game actually to take the race somewhere else entirely? Simon has some very strong views on it all.And as well as a circuit dropping out of MotoGP, we're also looking at which riders might be squeezed out (and who'll replace them) as we tackle the latest batch of The Race Members' Club's questions about the big 2027 moves and machinations.Enjoy a 7-day free trial to The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Ducati about to make a huge mistake and more of your rider market questions 13.02.2026 1j 3min

Is Ducati taking a huge risk in potentially putting Pedro Acosta alongside Marc Marquez for 2027, especially when it still has Fermin Aldeguer on its books too?Why has Ducati never seemed interested in Fabio Quartararo? Would Pecco Bagnaia be making a huge mistake if he picked Yamaha over Aprilia?Those are just some of the many, many questions from The Race Members’ Club that Val Khorounzhiy, Simon Patterson and Matt Beer tackle as The Race MotoGP Podcast answers your queries and points about the headlines of the wild 2027 rider market so far.And we delve into the philosophy of the paddock deals and how they’re communicated too, exploring everything from how and why leaks to the media happen, what salaries different teams might offer and why riders and teams seem so determined to commit to long term contracts way earlier than appears sensible.Enjoy a 7-day free trial to The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Marquez and Ducati shine at Sepang - but has Bagnaia accepted 2027 exit? 06.02.2026 55min

MotoGP 2026 roared into life with the three-day pre-season test at Sepang, set against the backdrop of more and more dramatics on the rider market.The Race MotoGP Podcast panel of Matt Beer, Simon Patterson and Val Khorounzhiy delve into the testing action, with analysis of long run pace and peak laptimes and the feedback from teams and riders.Has Ducati successfully safeguarded its MotoGP dominance? Are Aprilia and Marco Bezzecchi the only credible threat? And how much can be read into Pecco Bagnaia and particularly Alex Marquez having the initial upper hand over champion Marc Marquez?Plus, what's the latest on Bagnaia's future - with him sounding increasingly resigned to a Ducati exit for 2027?We also check in on Yamaha, with its mid-test 'hiatus' eventually resolved and a performance picture starting to form, including for somewhat frustrated rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu.Enjoy a 7-day free trial to The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MotoGP's mad start to 2026 03.02.2026 1j 7min

The first days of 2026 MotoGP testing have been dominated by talk of who's going where for 2027. There's a LOT for Val Khorounzhiy, Simon Patterson and Matt Beer to unpack as The Race MotoGP Podcast dives into Fabio Quartararo, Jorge Martin, Pedro Acosta and Alex Marquez's big likely moves plus how Marc Marquez could blow it all apart and why Marco Bezzecchi just got married to a motorbike.Enjoy a 7-day free trial to The Race Members' Club: Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.