Ash clouds and weddings
Red sky at night, shepherd's delight
Red sky in morning, shepherd's warning
That's how the old saying goes, but what would shepherds make of a slightly yellowish sky? Not even farming folk have heard the one about the giant ash cloud over Northern Europe, leaving a trail of chaos and costly disruption in its wake.
One race into the season and the skies became a giant no-fly zone, prompting Dorna, the organisers of MotoGP, to decide it was impossible to go ahead with the Japanese GP. All of a sudden, every member of the BBC team - and every other media and GP team across the world - were left twiddling our thumbs and wondering what to do for the next few weeks ahead of Jerez and Le Mans in May.
Well, for some of the riders, like Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, the unplanned break has come at the perfect time.
Rossi, the seven-time MotoGP World Champion, was kicking around at home when he took a tumble from a motocross bike and bruised his right shoulder. Lorenzo has struggled all pre-season with a damaged hand, which, like Rossi, he broke coming off a motocross bike. As for Honda's Dani Pedrosa, some time away from the suspension system on his bike, which seems to be causing him so many problems this year, may well stop him from throwing his helmet at someone in his team!
Problem is, I don't have a niggling injury, I haven't taken a tumble from a motocross bike - or any other bike for that matter - and my suspension was absolutely fine the last time I checked. In fact, I was chomping at the bit to get to Japan so I could get stuck into my second race.
I found out the race was cancelled when I got a text message from our director, Matt Griffiths, while I was watching the F1 Grand Prix in China on Sunday morning. "Nooooooooooo!" were my exact thoughts. "We can't let the season come to a halt before it has really got under way." But some things are just not meant to be.
Given the chance, I probably would have swum the Channel and trekked across Europe to make it to Japan for the race, but there's not much point of me busting a gut to get to Motegi if the rest of the paddock couldn't make it.
So whilst others recover and rethink their team tactics, for me it's back to the homework and revision. Over the past few weeks, I have watched more than 100 hours of MotoGP footage, featuring classic riders like Mick Doohan and Barry Sheene to the recent battles between the sport's top riders. I have relived every twist and turn of last season and have a pile of biographies to read.
The legendary Barry Sheene in action. Photo: Getty Images
And whilst I'm loving learning all this amazing theory about the greatest sport in the world, there is nothing like the smell of petrol and the roar of a four-stroke, 800cc bike.
Sadly, the postponement of the Japanese GP represented a double disappointment for me. Not only will I have to wait until 3 October for the re-arranged race, I'm also unable to go to the next one in Jerez on 2 May. It may be one of the best races of the season - so I'm reliably informed by every photographer, journalist and rider that I speak to - but I will be on the other side of the world at a family wedding in Canada.
I did suggest that I wasn't that important to proceedings in Toronto but the bride looked like she might burst into tears (or punch me) so I promptly agreed to fly there, wear a frilly dress and sit at the top table with a big smile on my face.
But there's a high probability I shall be wearing a nice big hat slung jauntily to one side to disguise the fact I'll be listening to all the action in Jerez via the wonders of the internet. Then as soon as I get back, I shall watch it on the BBC iPlayer.
So enjoy Jerez. I'll be thinking of you all watching the action as I toast the bride and groom with a glass of champagne. I'll be back for Le Mans on 24 May.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~29~RS~)
Hello, I'm Jennie Gow and I'll be guiding you through this year's MotoGP coverage on the BBC. I've been working in the biking world ever since I started out in TV, covering Speedway and Motocross before my move into the world of Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Nicky Hayden et al. Anyway, I hope you enjoy my blog and all the gossip and tales I'll be bringing from the grid and paddock.
Comments
Hopefully this unscheduled break will make a real difference to the main protagonists allowing them to get back to peak fitness or to get a decent set up.
Why not have the wedding on the start finish line I am sure one of the riders would give the happy couple the use of their hospitality unit for the reception.............just a thought.
.
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That really vindicates the BBC's choice of presenter for MotoGP. You land one of the best jobs in motorsport broadcasting and you can't even commit to covering all of the races in your first season. Well done BBC on spending licence payers money wisely.
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@endofcity - grow up. This was a thoughtful post, written by someone who clearly loves and knows motorsport and MotoGP especially. Jenny and Jake over on F1 are exactly what the licence fee is for, insightful, fresh and exciting coverage. What sort of person blows off a family wedding for work anyway!
Jenny, enjoy the wedding - perhaps some Princess Leia style hair would enable you to listen without being caught out!?
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endofcity are you for real, I have a wedding to go to myself in August, I'll be most upset if my company doesn't give me the time off
Well done BBC/Jennie still enjoying the coverage
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I agree with endofcity about nthe presenter. I was not impressed on the first programme. Changing the subject, why this obsession by people about Barry Sheene being a legend? He was a good rider and won 2 world championships, but what about Mike Hailwood, Geof Duke, Jim Redman, Eric Oliver etc. they are the real legends.
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Peter, the deal with Sheene? guess it may have something to do with the fact he had 19 wins and 40 podiums in the premier class over nine full seasons and remains the last British rider to win a premier class race (the 300th, Sweden in 1981) and the UK’s last two-wheeled World Champion.
Also, with regards to endofcity and yourself's comments on Jennie, are you telling us you've never had a shakey first day at work? Get real guys, give her a chance.
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Kudos to you Jennie, for taking on a role which, in the first place is hard enough, and secondly it's good to see a fresh beautiful face on the screen. Don't take the other negative comments to heart, they are jealous.
By the way, endofcity and Peter Ayers, when Suzy first started it was the same with her, so give Jennie a break and let her find her feet. Oh by the way, Suzy never made all the GP's either!!
Enjoy the wedding Jennie.
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"Given the chance, I probably would have swum the Channel and trekked across Europe to make it to Japan for the race"....stereo typical reply...
"there is nothing like the smell of petrol and the roar of a four-stroke, 800cc bike."....really...try a 500cc two-stroke!
But all said and done everyone has to start somewhere and the girls doing her homework. Suzi Perry was large boots to follow I guess, lets hope Jennie doesnt start gushing and fawning over the riders like Suzi did!
Good luck to her.
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I agree with endofcity. Only a woman could get away with this. How many races did Murray Walker no-show for commentary in his long career? Heck, how many F1 races did Jake Humphrey miss last year, in his first year of presenting F1? Looks like we've got another part-timer just like Suzi. Either you want the job or you don't.
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Give it a break guys! a wedding's a wedding - one of those things which everyone involved as a right to attend. Its considerably different from taking it as a holiday - as a lot of you are eager to slate it for.
Anyway back to the real topic. I was gutted i missed the opening race in Qatar (and iplayer just would not work for me either) however am eagerly looking forward to the next race in Jerez, almost always produces great racing.
Here's hoping for a Stoner win!
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bbc coverage is trash anyway so it doesn't really matter
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First of all best wishes to Ms Gow with her new job as I am sure she is doing her very best. Second: what is the role envisaged by the BBC for MotoGP female commentators? I see no consideration for gender equality here. As I woman I am not too happy to see that women in this job don't need to know much about bikes but merely wiggle and flirt like Ms Perry or try to impersonate some sort of Bridget Jones of motorbike racing like Ms Gow. What about having in this role a woman with some motorbike racing experience and knowledge of MotoGP like the male commentators? Too much to ask?
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Well Jenny enjoy the Wedding. Hope you study up for your next GP I'm sure it was first day nerves last time out. BBC-If Jenny doesn't work out how about Sheela Nair? She has presented a few bike programmes, loves MotoGP, has met riders, knows a thing or two about bikes and most importantly rides bikes herself. Sorry to put that on here Jenny I'm sure your a nice girl but this is the sport I love. You'll get up to speed soon enough but alas like a couple of your collegues you don't have the knowledge base or passion for the sport I expect of a pundit (yet). Please prove me wrong.
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Good on you Jennie, friends & family are the most important things in life & come before work every time.
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Looks like most people agree that no one in their right mind puts work in front of a family wedding. Jennie ignore this nonsense about you not knowing enough about the sport, you are bringing enthusiasm and a fresh perspective. I don't see why an encyclopedic knowledge of bikes is so important to some people, there are other presenters who bring this to the table.I am an ex racer and I love the sport but I don't know everything there is to know about the history - does this make my opinion invalid? Jennie is there and that gives her a perspective that you can't get at home.
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Pathetic . How about getting someone who already knows about motogp and feels committed enough to not miss a race for a wedding. Thank God for Eurosport .
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I will give the benefit of the doubt as regards the first race nerves and being in a completely new environment.
I am also prepared to accept that due to the nature of Suzi going and the short time to recruit someone to the position you will have had other plans already in place.
However as you use the licence payers hard earned cash to jaunt about the world please ensure you are on the money at Le Mans.
People here are not prepared to accept duff presenting for ever.
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Any thoughts on why Jerez Qualifying isn't available on iPlayer?
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Just a small point (but bigger than BBC MotoGP coverage), your web page report on the Jerez MotoGP says:
"Lorenzo said he was amazed to have stayed out in the lead for so long and despite missing out on victory, he was happy with his day's work."
That will so disappoint him, especially as he crossed the line first. Those Spaniards all look the same to me too. Pay attention and get a grip!!!
BBC = Bikes Barely Covered?
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It's bad enough employing a presenter just because she is a pretty face (pretty sexist I'd say - I agree with DucatiRossa) but when she can't even be bothered to turn up to her twice a monthly (max) gig.....!!!
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I'm surprised to see such a mixed bag of comments above. This is only my second season watching MotoGP and once again I'm gripped by the exciting racing and thoroughly enjoying the coverage. Loving the amount you guys do, I'm guessing with a small budget, for a niche audience. Thank you for your hard work so far and look forward to enjoying the season with you!
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Get over it guys - she was at a wedding and I am sure will have had a great day.
Envy and jealousy are fine - I envy her - but get a grip and cut out the nonsense.
As for the race - Stoner will scarcely be able to believe that Hayden has become the leading Ducati rider - who would have thought that pre-season.
I think Lorenzo will take Rossi's title this year. I think he looks so much more mature and his riding style is about the most fluid and assured I have ever seen. Superb rider.
But I wouldn't write off Stoner yet.
I also expected a stronger track showing from Ben Spies.
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Come on guys. Seriously disappointed with some of the negative and frankly quite rude comments posted on here. It's clear Jennie knows she has one if the best jobs in sport and any presenter would be nervous filling the shoes she has! I wonder how happy a member of your family would be if you missed their wedding. How about we wait to the end if the season to judge her and I'm sure you'll all be very happy with how the BBC has spent our money. Calling it Vidication of wasting tax payers money is pathetic endofcity. You don't even seem that keen on MotoGP as you didn't even bother to comment on the race! I for one am happy to see a fresh, young and attractive talent lighting up my favorite sport and while I hope she enjoyed the wedding can't wait for her to be back lighting up the screen. As for the race, I've just got a sneaky Stoner feeling that won't go away....
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I wonder if Randy de Puniet's brilliant qualifying time had anything to do with the Silverstone track day that he attended on 10th June? Maybe not: it clearly didn't help Kenny Noyes!!
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Jenny why not marry Stoner, take a very very long and lasting honeymoon to Kingston (east) Jam. Thus making some pleasent and interesting blog reading in the proses.
j
H.A MCC
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