The Official Losail Moto GP Thread - With Spoilers

[Dare2Fail]

Willy Nilly said:

The trouble with pay per view is that it reduces the amount of people that watch the sport, what ever sport that may be. MotoGP obviously want to make as much ££££ as possible and a certain amount of people will pay a certain amount of money to watch it. But there are plenty of people that are interested in it, but no enough to stump up what ever it costs on pay per view. They have lost these people.

My view is that sports are getting too greedy and while it will have a short term gain, long term you won't get so many new viewers/fans watching your sport because the highlights of your sport is no longer on the 10 O'Clock news because it's too expensive.

The more coverage a sport gets the better because they can charge the advertisers more.

And what if the advertisers aren't interested? That is the problem faced by MotoGP and Dorna. For years they persevered with terrestrial broadcasts on the basis that it would bring in sponsors. This would then in turn lead to teams no longer relying on financial support from Dorna. The problem with this is clear to be seen in the UK. How many years did the BBC air MotoGP? How many large British sponsors starting putting money into the sport in that time?

Dorna has taken the view that it is better to get a large chunk of money for selling the TV rights, even if it reduces the audience numbers, than to get a smaller chunk of money and no advertising/sponsor gains.

In addition to this there was an interesting comment from one of the guys who is involved in putting together advertising pitches for one of the Moto2 teams. He explained that sponsors aren't interested in casual viewers as they tend not to be influenced by the advertising and as a result the number of hardcore fans (the people who are more likely to pay to watch) is of much greater relevance.

Edited by Dare2Fail on Monday 24th March 18:04

[-Pete-]

Moto3 and Moto2 have been best in recent years, MotoGP has been the least exciting, so last night was a fantastic start to the season. I'm sorry for Bradley and impressed by Bautista and Bradl, thought Cal was doing a good job considering peoples' expectations of the Ducati. It's great to see Vale on a Yamaha again, but now I'm wondering what he could have done on a 2014 Duke

I'm ex-Eurosport and couldn't stand the BBC commentary, Parish was bearable but otherwise complete drivel especially Cox. It'll take a little time to get used to Keith, James and Melanie, but I really enjoyed Neil and Julian's contributions.

There's no pause on the broadband app or browser players, and I can't always guarantee to be available to watch live GP's. So I'm massively relieved to find out the full spoiler-free shows are available here for BT Broadband subscribers like me:
http://sport.bt.com/watchnow/programmes/motogp-spo...

I'm also worried that BT Sport shows on my itemised BT bill with current cost £0.00 - If they start charging £10/month I'll have to think again (Eurosport for WSBK is £30-35/year and last year that was for MotoGP as well).

Can't wait for the next race

[Dare2Fail]

FourWheelDrift said:

Dare2Fail said:

Interesting that they have put up highlights for everyone before ITV can air their broadcast. Potentially a good move to encourage future subscribers to adopt for the complete package.

Only 8mins of MotoGP highlights though, I hope ITV4 has more than that in a 1hr program

Ahh...so they are using the most extreme definition of 'highlights' then.

[FourWheelDrift]

I watched it. the commentary went something like

"And they're off, Lorenzo's down, Ianonne's down, Bradl's down, Smith's down, Bautista's down, Rossi leads, Marquez wins."

[Gixer]

I never used to watch the coverage on the BBC as I preferred the Eurosport commentary. I bought a MotoGP video pass last week and so far my only regret has been that I should have bought it back in Jan so I could have watched the testing as well. Pleased with the service, commentary is acceptable, although a bit strange not having the usual duo. Live coverage was great, I loved the way it just ran on from one race to another without a break. More like being there, seeing and hearing the bikes being started and brought round to the grid etc.

One thing though, if you do not watch it live, make sure you use the No Spoiler URL to their site. I found it in the Q&A's section.

Hopefully we are in for a good season. It's certainly got off to a good start. Will Rossi stay competitive or will it be much a repeat of last year where he came form the back for a podium much like last night? Shame Lorenzo crashed as I was also looking forward to seeing his race pace after he had been struggling all weekend. Guess we'll have to wait until next race for that one. Good mid race interview he gave though I thought. Didn't blame the bike or anything, just said I made a mistake but at least Rossi is going well for the team. Not sure of all the yoga crap he was doing before and on the grid.

[RumpleFugly]

Dare2Fail said:

Nice summary here:-

http://trunkman.co.uk/blog/a-new-era-of-motogp-in-...

"MotoGP fans in the UK are about as precious and fickle as any fan of any teen pop group and they were out in force this weekend"

Sums it up nicely

[y2blade]

I'm Looking forward to the itv4 program tonight.
We were going to watch the race again anyway so it'll be interesting to see what itv4 do

[Mini1275]

I didn't think the BT coverage was bad, in fact I quite enjoyed it. I'm sure they'll gel together and improve as the season goes on, too.

I prefer to pay attention to the actual racing and what's going on rather than micro-analysing every word that comes out of the commentator's mouths and then furiously typing my disgust on the internet, though.

---

I do wonder if anything had happened to Crutchlow just before Hodgson interviewed him, his reaction seemed strange. Sixth wasn't that bad of a result considering the bike and his TC problems. At first I thought he was going to deck Hodgson and I think Hodgson thought that too! .

Strange.

[v60marko]

paranha said:

I have admired MV ever since he started.Always tries to give 100%.Hope he gets the best support for a later entry into GP.

You must have a short memory

http://motomatters.com/news/2012/10/19/maverick_vi...

[charlie926J]

Brilliant racing in all three categories. Especially happy to see Bradley up there for so much of the race and Redding having a good first race as well. Really hope Rossi keeps up the good work. Was listening to the commentators speculating on tyre life and thinking - Rossi and Marquez? the kings of backing it into the corners, the 2 riders least likely to worry about loss of grip. Would have been happy with either winning.

I've got the motoGP.com videopass, just the standard rate. Seemed like good value and I couldn't be happier with the commentary. Well, yes, actually, I could wish for Gavn Emmett back with Nick Harris, but they were always my favourite pairing on the bbc broadcast and I always wished I could get their commentary for the motogP race. Although I used to enjoy the Eurosport coverage when I first got satellite in the 90s, in recent years Moody/Ryder have just irritated me.

I've got a fairly basic laptop and while it seemed to be coping okay with the live feed, I was getting problems between 17.30 and 18.30 with the feed just freezing on Thurs/Fri. Since it didn't seem to be a problem at all on on sunday and less of one on Saturday, I have to assume it was a broadband loading issue and just a factor of being on a rural exchange.

Roll on Austin!

[TheExcession]

Andy XRV said:

I cannot understand the obsession with the commentators either.

Me neither. Beggars belief. Little Ex and I were snuggled up under his duvet on the sofa and really enjoyed it.

Hogdson trying to interview Cal was fking hilarious - lads out on a weekend together? When he got back up for the round up and said 'Did you see his eyes - I didn't wan't to go near him!' - you just knew the directors were shouting 'Talk to Cal...' and Hogdson was saying 'I'd rather not... he might punch me...'

Rossi with his little 'fk' - exactly the same, lads out on a weekend together having fun.

Fabulous!

Anyone who is complaining about the BT coverage of this event needs their haddock salmoned. It was spot on, even Toesland got a hair cut!

Where has the humour and fun gone from this sport? ANSWER: It hasn't.

Anyone complaining about the commentary hasn't got a clue about MotoGP and is only complaining on what is being presented without watching what was going on.

IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE TV COMMENTARY FOR THAT RACE I SUGGEST YOU GO ASK YOUR MUM TO PULL THE DUMMY FROM YOUR MOUTH AND ASK HER TO TEACH YOU HOW TO PUT IN A SPOON INSTEAD.

The commentary was utterly irrelevant to the lads racing that night, and it was fantastic.

There's a thread on PH moaning about about the sound of the F1 cars, can we put up a forum where 'Sound Matters' where people can complain about noise?

[John D.]

Just watched the ITV4 highlights. Holy st! That was well worth the wait

Actually buzzing from the MotoGP race.

[John D.]

y2blade said:

I'm Looking forward to the itv4 program tonight.
We were going to watch the race again anyway so it'll be interesting to see what itv4 do

Is it not the same footage/commentary at BT? Different edit.

I have sorted a logon for BT so will be catching all races live from now on (cocked up on the timings last night though - doh!).

Find it curious people don't like the commentary team. But then I loved Eurosport and hated BBC (that shot the fox/look how small Pedrosa is he's so fast cos he's so small/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)

[y2blade]

John D. said:

Is it not the same footage/commentary at BT? Different edit.

Yes, it was.

[Mastodon2]

The MotoGP race was amazing, it was great to see Rossi and Marquez duking it out - the old king and the new, dicing up and down the track was a great spectacle and I hope Rossi can be at the front again in the future as it made for excellent viewing. The bikes didn't half look twitchy, they way they stand up on corner exits looks like they're being pulled upright by magnets it's so smooth, but under braking there were some significant wobbles from a few bikes.

For those in the know, just how big is the gap between the M1s that Rossi and Lorenzo ride, and the leading Hondas? And like in other motorsports, is Rossi's bike on a level with Lorenzo's, or does Lorenzo, as a more likely 1st place finisher, get the majority of the budget and manpower to get his bike tuned to his specifications? One of the commentators on the ITV4 feed quoted Rossi in saying that the 2014 M1 is the "slowest MotoGP bike he had ridden".

[ooo000ooo]

Was it just my imagination or was the picture quality a lot better than last years?

[John D.]

ooo000ooo said:

Was it just my imagination or was the picture quality a lot better than last years?

I thought so too. Not sure if racing under the spot lights accounted for the different look.

[Lincsblokey]

Mastodon2 said:

The MotoGP race was amazing, it was great to see Rossi and Marquez duking it out - the old king and the new, dicing up and down the track was a great spectacle and I hope Rossi can be at the front again in the future as it made for excellent viewing. The bikes didn't half look twitchy, they way they stand up on corner exits looks like they're being pulled upright by magnets it's so smooth, but under braking there were some significant wobbles from a few bikes.

For those in the know, just how big is the gap between the M1s that Rossi and Lorenzo ride, and the leading Hondas? And like in other motorsports, is Rossi's bike on a level with Lorenzo's, or does Lorenzo, as a more likely 1st place finisher, get the majority of the budget and manpower to get his bike tuned to his specifications? One of the commentators on the ITV4 feed quoted Rossi in saying that the 2014 M1 is the "slowest MotoGP bike he had ridden".

The 'slowest bike' comment is purely down to the 20l rule, it's hamstringing the bikes so much it's really bad, I'd expect WSBK top speeds in race trim to be higher at some circuits.

Rossi and Lorenzos bikes are identical, development feedback is taken from those two primarily then Bradley smith, and to a lesser extent, pol. The Tech 3 boys are benefitting from much closer level equipment to the factory lads this year, as for the gap to the Hondas, it's not a measurable gap, it's just a reverse of 2012 where Bridgestones new tyres fked HRC over in the sepang tests and then carried on with those tyres all year, it took Honda most if the year and 4 chassis before they got the bike sorted, whereas there is already talk of VR & JL moaning so much & publicly slating Bridgestone that the 2013 tyres may come back out yet. Suppose that's the advantage of having VR as ambassador and advisor to Bridgestone....

[huckster6]

Just watched the edited race.

Rossi was, of course, magnificent and magical. It's so good to see him dicing for the lead. I do hope this is a portent of the races to come. The name Crutchlow was only mentioned once, I think, as the winners had already gone over the line. Scott Redding got about two mentions though Bradders was rightly highlighted.

The actual broadcast was routine. Ever heard the beautiful BB King song title "The thrill is gone"? The 'Highlights' idea really isn't thrilling when you're not on the edge of your seat with the immediacy of real-time pictures.

The commentary we were given on shows that Parish & Cox were almost in the Murray Walker category for great commentators. We got routine meandering without sparkle, which didn't add anything to the pictures. Parish and Cox had first hand knowledge of racing, good rapport and an amusing way with words.

I thought the whole thing was pretty pointless as a spectacle. It just seems to fill no niche in the racing scene. I think it's an empty fake which exists to fuel a fantasy world of a small group of spectacularly over-wealthy dunderheads - rather like the people who'd buy any of the stupid cars in "Arab Millionaire Boy Racers in London!" [ YouTube clip http://youtu.be/9_f2Ck1nJ_k ]

The fixture looks like a silly publicity gimmick for the Losail new town development just outside Doha, apparently. The climate alone is inhospitable enough for few but desperate chancers'd want to be in the first place. I sense a PR-Marketing concoction for people who want to appear like Big Time Players. Tax write offs and HUGE fees and Commissions for the promoters, d'y'think?

As far as I could see, there must have been at least a couple of thousand spectators who bothered to turn to turn up to sit in the grandstand. I definitely did also see at least three marshals standing in a gap in the mesh safety fence. So it wasn't like there could have been many raving motorcycle tifosi.

Still, that is all very much better than nothing at all, for those of us without loads of money.

[Mini1275]

Does anybody have a high-res version of this:



?