BBC Announces Suzi Perry Replacement & Rossi Says "Three More Years"

Now, it is tough to find a replacement for someone like Suzi Perry, who had been one of the most important voices in MotoGP for the last decade (at least to the UK). Well, since Perry stepped down at the end of last year to pursue other interests, the BBC has been searching for someone to take her position. They have announced their new employee - Jennie Gow. Gow has extensive experience working in newspapers, TV and radio, and she has plenty of motorcycle racing experience as well - Speedway and Motocross. Take a look at the new face of MotoGP for the UK.

http://tinyurl.com/yjrmtre

Valentino Rossi, in an in-depth interview, has stated that he plans on staying in MotoGP for three more years - and very likely with Yamaha. He stated a few days ago that defecting to Ducati is NOT an option for him and he wants to finish his career with Yamaha...and yet people still keep spreading rumors about him riding for Ducati. For the very short pieces, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yzdu6fo

More Morning Moto News - Phillip Island WSBK, Guy Martin and Stephen Thompson

We have another report from World Superbike Practice at Phillip Island in Australia. This time is is Carlos Checa who led the field in testing yesterday. Behind him was Michel Fabrizio, and sitting in third was day one's fastest rider Leon Haslam. If I find more of these reports, I will place them in this post.

http://tinyurl.com/y8j82u9

http://tinyurl.com/yb6lxy5

http://tinyurl.com/ybzll5w

WSS: http://tinyurl.com/ydmfy6j

The BBC likes to follow a single rider during their preparation for the North West 200 real roads race held in the United Kingdom on 16 May 2010. They started the project, as far as I can tell, last year with James McCann. This year they will be taking on two racers - fan favorite Guy Martin and Stephen Thompson. The project has just started, but if you want to follow it, you should take the link below.

http://tinyurl.com/ybnr6tc

More Morning Moto News - AMA Board of Directors Change, MotoGP Rules & Suzi Perry

The AMA has just finished up their annual Board of Directors meeting in Indianapolis (13 February 2010). At that meeting, they decided to make changes to the make-up of the BoD - instead of six industry representatives on the Board, there will now only be four. There will also now be two 'at-large' Board members who will be elected by the entire organization (or so it seems now), but the Board will continue to have 12 members total. For all the information, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y8vx5f9

When the 2012 MotoGP season begins, there will be some new rules for privateer teams. They will then be allowed more engines and larger fuel tanks than the factory teams on the grid once the maximum displacement is increased to 1000cc. This is an obvious move to spur more competition in the paddock and to invite some others who may not have been in the series previously. It could cause some backlash, but it is likely to expand beyond the small number of current riders.

http://tinyurl.com/y8gp42d

Fan favorite Suzi Perry has quit the BBC MotoGP coverage unit - she will no longer report from the MotoGP paddock. After 13 years behind the microphone with the racing series, she will be moving on to work on her broadcasting career beyond motorcycle racing. She will be missed and we wish her luck!

http://tinyurl.com/y97vlck

More Morning Moto News - Simon Andrews, Parrish Bullish on Brits & Riders for Health

MSS Colchester Kawasaki top rider Simon Andrews could be in some serious trouble. Andrews has admitted to three separate driving offenses which could lead him to time in prison and/or they may take away his driving license. He has pleaded guilty...and it may cost him his 2010 BSB season - idiot!

http://tinyurl.com/y9wttt4

Well-known motorcycle World Champion and journalist Steve Parrish has said that 2010 will be the year of Britain in the motorcycle racing series of the world. He expects James Toseland to get a fire under his rear and to take the WSBK paddock by storm; however, he sees Jonathan Rea as the heir apparent for the World Championship. No matter how it all goes down, British participation is heading in the right direction for him!

http://tinyurl.com/ye3pac4

The BBC has kindly placed a documentary film about the Riders for Health charity online for all to watch. The documentary is from a program called "Alvin's Guide to Good Business" and you can access it from a link after the link below. They do wonderful work and the video is worth watching!

http://tinyurl.com/ye4gry6

Some Stories About Life with Motorcycles in Various Places

First up, is this lovely tale about a police department that broke into a garage of a rider, stole his bike, then phoned him up to say that they had recovered it from a thief. It happened...

http://tinyurl.com/yc8mqm3

Now, imagine you have worked for a television news broadcaster for over 20 years. Then, the company who you work for discovers that you are also the spokesman for a heavily-maligned motorcycle gang and fires you for it. What would you do? Well, it happened to Steve Jones...

http://tinyurl.com/yed7mdo

Now, imagine you are competing in the Rally Dakar, which is on the other side of the world form your hometown, and you are trying to race to the front of the pack. When you think you have a chance, you take off to the left a bit, see a rise, and decide to jump it a bit and take a better position. Well, then you find out that you are about to land in a five meter deep tomb! Can you say...D'oh!

http://tinyurl.com/yauxoef

Now comes the one we wish we all had happen to us. Suppose you are a very wealthy heir to an even larger fortune and you want a new motorcycle. What do you buy? Well, a Vyrus 987 of course!

http://tinyurl.com/yawhnkn - plus a cool video of the lusty machine!

Steve Parrish to Ride in Thundersprint 2010

Parrish is well-known as the BBC commentator for MotoGP (his partner was fired last week), but he is also a motorcycle racer. So, at the Thundersprint 2010 event, to be held 8 - 9 May 2010, he will race a Yamaha YZF-R1 at the event next year - and he will have fun!

http://tinyurl.com/yzqwv5y

MotoGP Commentator Charlie Cox Fired by BBC

He has faced criticism for his style of commentating, but he still got the job done. However, the suits at BBC have decided to send Cox back to his home of Australia. Steve Parrish may or may not remain, and no one knows who the BBC may replace Cox with...The BBC works like Fox TV - constant shake-ups for no obvious reason...

http://tinyurl.com/yz8vd4n

BBC Motorcycle Racing – Review 2009 Launches Next Week

BBC Motorcycle Racing –Review 2009 is a "bookazine" released from the BBC Magazines Bristol group and it will be available next week for £6.99 at WH Smith only. It covers all important motorcycle racing from the 2009 season - this includes MotoGP, World Superbike, British Superbike, and interview with Valentino Rossi and much more. If you can get a copy - please get me one as well; I will reimburse you for it!

http://tinyurl.com/y8qnuh3

Shake-Up at BBC Involving Televised MotoGP Race Production

It seems that the BBC has now distanced itself from some controversy early this season by letting go of current MotoGP television producer Belinda Moore. The person responsible for the 2008 coverage of the British Superbike and who now handles Formula 1 for the BBC, Mark Wilkin, will be taking over the position. For more information, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yae4meb

More Ahead of Valencia - Matt Roberts' MotoGP Column

You have read him before, probably without even knowing it. Well, Mr. Roberts opines on some very interesting situations ahead of tomorrow's race in Spain. So much is left to be decided - placement overall in MotoGP (except fro Rossi), the 250c.c. World Champion, and where will some of the not-yet-signed riders end up in 2010 - there may be announcements all around the Valencia round pertaining to this subject...stay tuned!

http://tinyurl.com/yezmjfr

The BBC Explains Their Coverage of Sepang MotoGP Round

They had to cut off the post-race interviews and the Valentino Rossi Championship celebration, and BBC viewers were - and are - ticked off! The reason this happened was due to the delay of the MotoGP race start due to the heavy downpour at the Malaysian track, thus delaying the race start by 40 minutes. The BBC says that it had no choice due to prior scheduling commitments; it had to start the race on one channel, switch the second half of the race to another one - and, then, cut the final part of the event...Sometimes it's good to have delayed viewing, sometimes...

http://tinyurl.com/ylsmjqf

The Two Top MotoGP Columns Write About the Malaysia MotoGP Round

Steve Parrish and Matt Roberts are both well-known in the world of media covering the MotoGP Championship. Today, we have both of them writing about what Phillip Island meant to the overall championships in the three series (MotoGP, 250c.c., 125c.c.) and what we should look for in Malaysia. Rossi could take the title Sunday; Aoyama and Simoncelli are both possible 250c.c. Championship contenders; and, we all know that Simon is the 125c.c. champion, but who will be in second or third? Read both of these and you will be doing yourself a great service!

Steve Parrish: http://tinyurl.com/yh42wwx

Matt Roberts: http://tinyurl.com/ykbgjlx