Paddock Pass Podcast

Episode 542: Chatting with Guenther Steiner and our 2026 MotoGP Travel tips

1h 4min

The Paddock Pass podcast discusses current MotoGP news, including the likely postponement of the Qatar GP and post-Thailand travel chaos. The hosts also share details about a competition for 2026 MotoGP paddock passes and offer extensive travel tips for attending races. A key segment features an interview with Guenther Steiner, the new Red Bull KTM Tech3 team principal, who shares his initial impressions of MotoGP, emphasizing its unique intensity and growth potential.

Summarized by Podsumo

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✨ Key Takeaways

1

Exclusive Competition

Listeners can win two 2026 MotoGP or World Superbike paddock passes by becoming an annual Paddock Insider on Patreon, with 129 entries so far.
2

Guenther Steiner's MotoGP Transition

The former F1 team principal discusses his move to Red Bull KTM Tech3, highlighting his focus on strategic growth and learning from the established team, rather than direct day-to-day operations, and appreciating MotoGP's "grassroots racing" intensity.
3

MotoGP Travel Tips

The hosts provide comprehensive recommendations for 2026 Grand Prix visits, covering best circuits (Mugello, Phillip Island), top atmospheres (Jerez, Le Mans), ideal locations for tourism (Lombok, Brno, Austin), and logistical ease (Assen, Barcelona).
4

First-Time Spectator Experience

Suggestions for first-time attendees include witnessing the extreme deceleration at Mugello's Turn 1 or the rider physicality at Assen's iconic GT Chicane for a truly visceral introduction to the sport.
5

Current MotoGP Updates

News includes the probable postponement of the Qatar GP due to global issues, Moto2 points being halved after chaos in Thailand, and ongoing private testing in various locations.

💬 Notable Quotes

"you cannot compare everything with Formula One and you don't need to compare it with Formula One because being different doesn't mean to be worse than Formula One, you know, it's just different, you know, so."

— Guenther Steiner
"No, what I like is how competitive it is. For me the riders, how much on the edge they are. When you see them going out on the track, you see the stress level they are under."

— Guenther Steiner
"But the section all through... basically from Maven Mia, from the bottom of the southern most point in Asun all the way through to the GT Shican or the GT Shican is a fantastic place to actually watch as well because you see the really wrestling with the bikes really having to fight the bikes."

— Dave