BT Sports MotoGP coverage - what did you think?

I thought the coverage was very good. Melanie Sykes a bit insincere in parts but over all I'd give them 9 out of 10. They dropped a point because the iPad app was running about 40 seconds behind. Let hope as they get near to home the lag will be down to nil.

 

I thought it was ok.. Like neil h but why have Melanie Sykes there.. She knows nothing about it at all and offers nothing to the show...

 

I recorded it and watched it in delay so I could fast forward any uninteresting bits. I thought Neil H was really good, it is great to have someone who has actually done it interviewing the riders, a bit like Martin Brundle in F1.

 

I thought that Melanie Sykes was effectively an uninterested t*t stand.

Neil Hodgson looked totally out of his depth.

I thought that the two commentating on the actual race were pretty decent. Certainly better than Charlie Whassisface and Steve Parrish.

 

I enjoyed it, but I'm easily pleased

 

I enjoyed it

 

Yeah I think VBH or Suzi Perry would have been a better choice than Mel but as for BT Sports first airing it was great!
Although I feel the guy commentating with Julian Ryder is too abrasive, he's no Toby Moody they've not got the same banter and they clash a bit! But it will only get better as the season goes on once everyone settles down! On the whole very good tho

 

Why is Sykes there? Toseland was OK but there'll be no awards coming his way. I felt sorry for Neil Hodgson as he's fine when he guest commentates on things behind the camera but to throw the poor bloke into the melee on the grid was a little harsh. He was totally out of his depth. Haven't got a scooby who the bloke in parc ferme was. I was gutted when I heard that Huewen was on the team, his petty come backs to Julian Ryder and his inability to admit he's wrong doesn't make for a good viewing. I've disliked Huewen since I heard his commentary on the 2000 TT DVD when he was less than complimentary about Dave Jefferies.

Anyway other than that, I enjoyed the coverage maybe 7/10 overall.

 

Yeah, I really enjoyed it.. Great camera angles and slow mo"s.... Totally agree about Mel Sykes ! No need at all for non knowledgable eye candy in such an event ! Kinda cheapened the presentation i thought...
If there was need for such a thing i wouldn't mind seeing what Pollyanne Woodward from the Gadget Show would bring ! She's pretty and loves a bit of adrenaline

And whats going on between Cal Crutchlow and Neil Hodgson ?? Thought that was all a bit awkward and tense ?! And again, i don't think Neil was the best choice there either bless him...

 

Moody and Huewen to my mind were the original Satellite commentators. Huewen was really great as Sky Sports anchor man many years ago, anchoring quite a few sports not just motorcycles. I was good to see/hear them back together but I feel that Huewen's talent is a bit wasted, as it appears he still has the knowledge despite the years since he was last competitive on a bike. Interesting to see nobody has mentioned JT yet. Was it just my settings on my TV (HD) or did he look to have a plastic face. It was quite obvious that JT thought he could do Sykes' job any day. JT was much better than I expected as was Hodgson. Hodgson trying to interview Crutchlow as he was walking back to the pits at the end of the race was, to me, an all time classic.

 

I think the awkwardness for Crutchlow and Hodgson comes from Hodgson trying to emulate Matthew Roberts' from the BBC's banter with Crutchlow. NH needs to get into the pits and build his relationship with the riders before he tries to have a bit of banter.
I really like the difference between Bradley's brolly dolly and Laverty's

 

Did anyone else hear Rossi say "fack".. !! in the post race interveiw..? James toseland was a bit wooden, hes looking very strange these days.... I have a massive crush on Neil H, so he was fantastic.. Whats Mel doing there..??? Apart from that the racing was brilliant and it looks like were in for a cracking season.. Happy Days.

 

Crutchlow and Hodgson will have words before to long without a doubt, in fact I think Crutchlow did mutter piss off under his breath as he walked away after the race, Melanie Sykes waste of space, Toselands teeth don't seem to fit his mouth deffo looks a bit plastic in the face to me

 

Another thing... Before the race while the riders are sat at the back of their pits trying to focus, i think the camera men shouldn't be allowed in there and give them some respect and leave them alone ! Yeah, its nice to see what goes on with them, but if i was sitting there trying to find my chill before i went out to do battle at 215mph and I've got some gimp with a big camera in my face, id be proper pissed off !

You don't have cameramen sticking it in boxers faces while they are in there dressing rooms before a fight do ya ! Same same i reckon...

 

Emotions run high I can imagine after remembering a post race interview with Shakey last year when he described the race as "just ****" on live tv so for Vale to drop an f bomb and for Cal to be a bit peeved at being stopped before he's even had a chance to debrief with his engineers I can only imagine is a bit annoying particularly if he wants to give instant feedback to his guys I think Hodgson should've known better on that one.

Personally though I think Hodgie did a great job overall as did Ken sorry I mean JT. Jules well he is the David Bellamy of MotoGP and even sounds like him. The other commentator huewhateverhisface is was about as much use as an amputated testicle. Mel Sykes well considering who her cousin is I thought she would be more in the know but perhaps BT wanted everybody to have a familiar face to bond with even if it has seen better days and more sunbeds than it should have.

Overall I think it was a job well done personally I think they need to ditch Mel in favour of Suzy Taylor who is pretty handy on a bike herself and ditch off Huewhatverhisfaceis for Parrish even though he loves his bum boy Marquez I still think Parrish did a better job and would compliment Jules well.

 

*SPOILER*

I think Crutchlow was annoyed at the fact that the assumption was he run out of fuel rather than a mechanical failure. I thought the footage was good, but didnt rate the presenters. They waffled on too much and milked a lot of it. (Especially Sykes and Toseland at the end saying how close it was between Marquez and Rossi over the line, sorry but that wasnt close)

All in all though i cant complain as i dont have to pay to watch it thanks to the inlaws having BT Sport, if they didnt i wouldnt be watching it. Will watch the ITV4 Highlights though to see what they are like.

 

Cameras on the grid I like them, lets you get into the atmosphere a bit. I suspect Dorna are to blame for the cameras. I have no doubt those TV cameras on the grid are part of Dornas money making exercise and I reckon that the riders are contracted to give interviews too. Although I don't think I'd dared go anywhere near Rabat, his stare was seriously menacing. Looks like it worked though. I also like to watch the fella in Parc Ferme at the end of the race race making sure each rider speaks to the relevant camera crews. That's when Rossi said his F word. Harmless enough in the context he used it and his accent dulled it down a little too.

 

I actually prefer Kieth Huewen, as being an ex rider he knows a bit more about racing a bike than a mechanic (Toby whatever), but i agree that Mel was way out of her depth and Suzi Perry might have been a better choice?

 

I gathered she's kind of like...eye candy. Put her and the chap in the pits and who do you think the riders will probably talk to first? Meh. I dunno.