We review the main MotoGP podcasts and help you choose between them by comparing them to Simpsons characters.
Oxley-Bom MotoGP Podcast
Journo and once winner of a minor Isle of Man TT Mat Oxley teams up with Dutch motorcycle racing engineer and data guy Peter Bom to analyze events in the MotoGP paddock.
Typical dialogue [Not actual dialogue but a fair representation]:
Mat Oxley: OK, let’s keep this episode short ‘cos I have a f***ing hangover and I want to get to the bar for some hair of the f***ing dog.
Peter Bom: You mean like every shingle udder f***ing podcasht we’ve done, Mat?
Mat O: Exactly. So, tell me about Jorge Lorenzo.
Peter B: Jorge had an incredible ability to balansh de bike on corner entry. He did dish by modulating de front brake in order to regulate de weight transhfer from back to front of de bike. Alsho, Lorenzo wash… How do you shay dish in Eengleesh?… A mopey leetle f***er?
Mat O: F***ing hell, yeah, that’s one way of putting it!
Peter B: But it wash hilarioush when he had dat huge f***ing feud wid Valentino Rosshi.
Mat O: F*** me, when I saw that wall down the Yamaha garage for the first time I laughed so hard I nearly p***ed myself!
Most similar Simpsons Character: Snake Jailbird
Reason: Like Snake from the Simpsons, Oxley-Bom is the outlaw of MotoGP podcasts. They don’t even pay lip service to basic podcasting rules like “Don’t swear too much” or “For f***’s sake don’t tell the audience you’ve been drinking!”
Verdict: The gold standard of MotoGP podcasts. Highly recommended.
Paddock Pass MotoGP Podcast
MotoGP events are analysed by a gaggle of journos, bloggers and commentators including David Emmett, Neil Morrison, Adam Wheeler and Steve English.
Typical dialogue [Not actual dialogue but a fair representation]:
Steve English: Jaysus, sure our sponsors are grand. Now, what was your favourite moment of the last GP, guys?
Neil Morrison: Rumble, rumble [subwoofer explodes]
Adam Wheeler: If I can just compare it to Motocross…
Steve E: Sure dis is a MotoGP podcast, thanks to our sponsors! Shut up about Motocross! Now as I was just saying about World Superbike…
David Emmett: Remember to, uh, subscribe to our Patreon for all the, ah, latest MotoGP analysis, especially about, um, Assen! The Cathedral of Speed!
Adam W: You’re really old, Dave. Like really old.
Dave E: Shut up or I’ll, uh, force you to pronounce the name of the, er, last chicane at…
Adam W: Oh, God! Don’t say it!
Steve E: Say it! Say it!
Dave E: THE CATHEDRAL OF SPEED!!!
Adam W: Noooooo!!!!
Dave E: Ha ha, er, subscribe to our Patreon!
Steve E: Ha ha! Thanks to our sponsors!
Neil M: [Remains of subwoofer burst into flames]
Most similar Simpsons character: Bart Simpson
Reason: Bart can be a bit naughty but he mostly ends up sticking to the straight and narrow. Plus he shills for a lot of crap merchandise.
Verdict: Like watching a good movie on the ITV4 channel, it’s bloated and packed with commercials, but still entertaining and informative. Just remember to listen on headphones with a good bass response. If you listen on cheap, tinny earbuds then you won’t hear Neil Morrison at all and you’ll assume he must be their imaginary friend or something. Recommended.
OMG! MotoGP Podcast
Ancient 500GP rider and commentator Keith Huewen teams up with rando Harry Benjamin to analyse MotoGP.
Typical dialogue [Not actual dialogue but a fair representation]:
Keith Huewen: Valentino Rossi!!! The GOAT!!! The Greatest Of ALL TIME!!!
Harry Benjamin: Yeah, anyway, what’s your take on Jack Miller’s struggles with setup lately, Keith?
Keith H: I had these exact same problems with my Yamaha on a Saturday at Brno in about 1977.
Harry B: How did you solve them?
Keith H: I drank about 15 pints of lager, stole a hire car from somebody in the paddock and crashed it upside-down into a museum, destroying a ton of priceless artefacts, which is how we usually solved things in those days.
Harry B: Did you go to prison?
Keith H: No, I called Steve Parrish to bail me out. Which he did by stealing a load of dynamite from a local quarry and using it to blow the entire back wall off the police station.
Harry B: Right… So can we get back to the 21st century?
Keith H: Certainly. ROSSI!!!! THE GOAT!!! VALENTINO ROSSI!!!!
Most similar Simpsons character: Grampa Simpson
Reason: Like Grampa Simpson, the OMG! Podcast is at its best when Huewen is either giving his out of touch old geezer take on current events or telling rambling anecdotes about being a hell-raising young motorcycle racer about 50 years ago.
Verdict: There’s certainly entertainment to be had listening to opinionated loudmouth Huewen gobbing off while his much younger co-host valiantly tries to keep him on topic.
The Race MotoGP Podcast
Balding commentator and journo Toby Moody discusses MotoGP with social justice warrior Simon Paterson and some random F1 guy.
Typical Dialogue [Not actual dialogue but a fair representation]:
Toby Moody: I’m Toby Moody, and this is the MotoGP podcast of The Hyphen Race Dot Com. As I said, I’m Toby Moody and you can contact me on X where I can be reached as “at Toby Moody”. That’s At. Toby. Moody. Now, what was your take on the latest GP, guys?
Random F1 Guy: I’m still getting used to the cars having 2 wheels in MotoGP. But I am loving the aerodynamics and total lack of overtaking.
Simon Paterson: I was shocked by the lack of LGBTQ++ representation. There’s no option but to change the rules for 2024 so that every single bike has to have a rainbow colour scheme, and every single rider should have to wear rainbow leathers, gloves, boots and crash helmet.
RF1G: Could be tricky to tell the cars, I mean bikes apart.
Toby M: Yes! If I was commentating I’d have to say “Hello, I’m Toby Moody and I rather fancy that from this point, ladies and gentlemen, you’re on your own!”
RF1G: Wouldn’t shut you up though, would it?
Toby M: Toby. Moody. Never. Ever. Shuts. Up.
Simon P: Getting back on topic, I’d like to spend a quick 45 minutes outlining why MotoGP is a helpless tool of the evil Patriarchy.
Most similar Simpsons character: Lisa Simpson
Reason: Lisa is very knowledgeable, but can’t resist dispensing politically correct lectures at every conceivable opportunity.
Verdict: Perfect if you enjoy hearing news and analysis about MotoGP while at the same time being angrily scolded about how racist everything is.
Conclusion
Definitely listen to Oxley-Bom. And try out some of the others if you’ve got time.