MotoGP Coverage - WTF?

WTF?  On the final lap of the MotoGP in Germany (Sachsenring), someone cuts to a commercial.  I could see it if the race was a runaway, but the top four people finished within less than 0.4 seconds.  It was hard to tell if they picked up coverage at exactly the same point.

What I don’t know is who made that call which is why I used the word “someone” above.  Was it SPEED? Doubt it.  Was it DORNA?  That’s my guess because the announcers seemed pretty in tune to it.  Totally unacceptable and terrible planning if you ask me.

What I do know is that I immediately focused on a close-by analog clock (that would be one with a second hand for you ‘mouth-breathers’).  I had heard that a lap time was 1:23 and as the first thirty second commercial passed I was getting concerned.  As the second went, I was getting pissed.  As the third went, I was livid.

When the coverage came back, it didn’t seem to be in the same place unless the camera angle was the only thing that changed.  Yeah we still got better than half a lap, but c’mon.  What a way to break up the finish to an excellent race.

All that and no spoiler!

5 Comments

Lol…. I had the same reaction! Couldn’t believe my eyes when they cut to a commercial. I totally expected them to come back starting in the the interviews (and *maybe* a replay of the finish line).

Remember that with the exception of the US GP, non of the broadcasts on SPEED are LIVE.

Comment by Dbl0Busa | July 17th, 2006 3:09 pm | Permalink

I understand ABC is going to air the US GP, http://www.superbike-news.co.uk/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=6439&z=3
I still see it on Speed’s schedule also. I think it would be interesting to tape or watch both, and see if they broadcast the same.

Comment by mcstanger | July 17th, 2006 5:14 pm | Permalink

I’ve been trolling the SPEED viewer boards and according to what the posters over there have written, you can watch the races live via MotoGP.com for some $$. Posters have written that with a high speed connection and the proper output on your computer, you can view the races on your television.

Evidently this allows you to see the 125, 250, and then the GP races in real time, see a bunch of rider interviews, grid girls, etc - with no commericals.

Seems a bit extreme, but I used to go to similar changes to record BBC music programming that that we don’t get here in the US. If you are so inclined, this might me a way to go to get the best racing coverage…

Comment by Michael in Los Angeles | July 18th, 2006 11:22 am | Permalink

I was so upset that I declared that I would never buy any of the products on the commercials that cut into the last lap.

Comment by Jocie | July 22nd, 2006 4:34 am | Permalink

I agree with your sentiments regarding the German GP coverage. Cutting away for commercial in the middle of the last lap is unforgivable (I ain’t goin’ anywhere until the coverage is finalized)! Totally nonsensical screw job to the viewers. Since it’s not “live” we didn’t miss much of the lap, but to miss even one second of the lap is BS! And we only got to hear from Rossi for the interviews! I wanted to hear what Marco and Nicky (and even Dani) had to say. I guess this is why we are “encouraged” to subscribe to the “real” coverage (that costs money) instead of being freeloaders by watching SPEED. Of course ABC (in addition to SPEED) will be showing the US GP. I wonder how bad a major network will carve it up?

Laguna’s shaping up to be quite a race! Think Nick can pull it off again this year?

Rhino

Comment by rhino | July 30th, 2006 2:59 pm | Permalink

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