Ho ho ho! Are you feeling the holiday spirit yet? No? Well, have we got just the thing for you: a visit from Father Christmas himself! No, not Saint Nick – we’re talking about the one and only Kevin Schwantz, wearing a funny little red hat!*

Yes, we gave Kevin a ring and he picked up the phone for us. A few minutes later we were talking about his racing career, and before you know it there’s some pretty cool stories being shared. Some of them are about fighting for your life on a machine that seems to have a mind of its own, others are about one of the very best rivalries this sport has ever seen. And some stories may even be about the cheeky projectile launching of edible goods in a restaurant...

So grab yourself some eggnog, turn off the umpteenth rendition of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and gather everybody around the tree, because it’s time for some bloody great stories from the Christmas Schwantz!

*Because of the audio format of this podcast, the hat might be imaginary. On the topic of seasonal headwear, listener discretion is advised.

Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman's Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music!

This week, we're getting ready for the holiday season as we count down the Twelve Nights Riders of Christmas! Yes, Mat and Peter have been making a list (and checking it twice) from Bezzecchi to Martin, and they’re about to let you know who’s been naughty or nice…

So, who rides with the strongest emotions? Who has the most fighting spirit, the most crashes, the most wins and the most potential? Who should be proud and full of good cheer, and who might have been slacking a bit and finds coal in their socks?

There’s only one way to find out, so grab a drink, hit play and get ready...

Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman's Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music!

This week, we asked our Patreon-supporters to send in their questions and they did not disappoint. For example: How do factories look at independent teams? Was there ever a crash so bad, it made Peter and Mat reconsider racing? How do you talk to a rider who just messed up their race? Whtiny mistakes can have the biggest consequences for a rider's career? And what does Peter mean when he talks about 'Rider Intelligence'?

The answers to all the above and way, way more are found inside this extra long episode. So go ahead, jump in and enjoy!

Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman's Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music!