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!

Oh boy, something went wrong this week! No, we’re not talking about the financial trouble KTM finds itself in – although I promise we’ll touch on that in a bit – but about our microphones. We’ve got it fixed for next week, but this episode the quality is in the lovely tone of ‘tin can’. Sorry about that.

However, don’t go away just yet, because we’ve got a guest! This week, we’re talking about the future of MotoGP. That’s the financial future, to be precise. With Liberty Media buying the championship, the question is: what motivates them to do so and what could they do with it? To answer this, we’re joined by financial expert, old friend of the show and Monza Group founder Dario de Wet.

It starts about finance, but pretty soon the bigger picture appears when the concept of ‘value’ comes up. Because what is it that gives MotoGP value? Not just monetary value, but an actual presence in the lives of people? And can new owners bring that to a new audience without alienating the old one? Or, put simply: how can we show people what makes this sport great, without losing it?

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 staying at the Barcelona paddock to report on the big test. That’s right: it’s been at least hours since a new champion was crowned, so testing for the next season can begin!
So, what will Mat and Peter find and does it get them excited? Well, there’s some stuff that looks absolutely amazing. And it’s right next to the stuff that will probably give us headaches. But what’s what, and why so?
The only way to find out is to listen! Also, get ready for guest appearances by Jorge Martin’s bike - and maybe we’ll see Jorge, too, or at least his doppelgänger. What’s he doing here? Does he want to be rewarded for winning the championship with a gifted subscription to this podcast? Or is he looking for something else?

Cheers!

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!

We've got a champion! Big congrats to Jorge Martin - and now it's time to party! Look, I could write a very long description here, but we all know the drill. It's the end of the season, Mat and Peter are in the paddock and there's beer being served. Care to join us in a 'live' celebration?

Here's what you do. First, try to answer the following questions. Your job is to guess who:

...commits a crime against God and Drink
...loves to kill everyone
...doesn't mind 20 punters in your pit
...knows where to get free beer
...almost ran over our hosts!
...'lost' a few tools
...gets down with a bottle of red after victory
...gets some surprise compliments
...knows the dark arts of the mass damper
...is a manufacturer that might be preparing for a whole new event at MotoGP next year
...is about to suggest the best holiday gift ever?

Okay, locked in your answers? Then grab the biggest pint you can find, hit 'play' and enjoy the chaos. Cheers!

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!

It’s back to Barcelona as we count down the days till MotoGP 2024 reaches its conclusion. The question, of course, is what will happen and where it will take place. Luckily we’ve got a Peter, so let’s ask him!

And luckily for Peter, he already wrote about that very thing. But that was for a different part of the year, with different weather, different humidity, different tires and different stakes. So he ended up having to do the work again, anyhow. Sorry!

(Oh, and as always: don't forget to pull up our map of the circuit!)

This is a free excerp, where Peter describes the track turn-by-turn. For the full analyses, please consider subscribing to our Patreon!

According to most Catalans, their capital is being overtaken by tourists. So we should probably apologize to them in advance for booking tickets to Barcelona. But hey, this race is going to be spectacular!
As we move towards the season finale next week, Mat and Peter look back at the events that brought us here and try to imagine themselves in Bagnaia and Martín's boots. Is this going to be one of those rare years where an independent team takes the title? Whatever you expect, don't let anyone tell you the outcome is already set. To quote Mat: "If Bagnaia wins both races, Martin needs a 6th in the sprint and a 6th in the GP to take the title by one point. Easy! In theory." Emphasis on those last words...

Cheers everyone, and we hope you'll enjoy this episode!

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!