BT Sport has unveiled the details of its programmes and presenters for the 2014 FIM MotoGP World Championship season, in what it says will be the most extensive coverage of the sport that has ever been seen in the UK. BT Sport has a five-year deal with Dorna Sports for exclusive rights to televise motorcycle racing’s premier contest, the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship, starting from the 2014 season, with the opening race in Qatar on March 23. Race weekends with BT Sport will be presented by television presenter Melanie Sykes alongside MotoGP experts, former British and World Superbike Champions, Neil Hodgson and James Toseland. BT Sport will be reuniting commentators Ryder and Huewen. Julian Ryder, previously Eurosport's MotoGP commentator of more than 14 years will be joined by former British Champion and motorsport commentator, Keith Huewen, along with Motorcycle News chief grand prix correspondent, Matt Birt. MotoGP commentator and presenter Gavin Emmett will be BT Sport’s MotoGP reporter.
The channel’s comprehensive coverage of MotoGP launches on March 18 with a special preview show, featuring interviews with all the top riders and action from the key official pre-season tests. For each of the 19 race meetings in 2014, BT Sport will show the free practice and qualifying sessions live, full coverage of the Moto2™ and Moto3™ races and the elite MotoGP race across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
A new hour-long programme, MotoGP Tonight, will be broadcast at 8pm on Tuesdays, after every Grand Prix weekend. This will be presented by BT Sport’s Craig Doyle and former Olympian and European and Commonwealth games 400 metres champion and biker, Iwan Thomas. The pair will be joined by an array of guests from the motorbike world.
Live race weekend coverage on BT Sport will usually start on Friday mornings and will include all practice sessions and races throughout the weekend, with around five hours of coverage each day. The opening night-time event in Qatar will be an exception to this, with coverage in addition on Thursday March 20 from 3pm to 7.45pm. Users will be able to watch the main coverage and choose from seven other camera views, including four fitted to bikes hitting more than 200mph, a helicopter view and live timing and tracking screens. Full races and highlights including interviews and features will also be available to watch on the app.
