BBC to show MotoGP in HD in 2012

The BBC’s extensive coverage of all 18 rounds of the 2012 MotoGP world championship will be shown in HD for the first time.

The BBC today also confirmed its coverage plans for all 18 races, with the first race in Qatar on April 8 shown at 1930 BST, live on the Red Button and repeated at 2320 BST on BBC One and BBC One HD.

Explaining why the first race of the new 1000cc era will only be shown live on the Red Button service, BBC’s head of MotoGP Ben Gallop said: “We’re excited to be able to offer the 2012 MotoGP season to fans in HD, and are looking forward to a very exciting year on the track.

“As in previous years the season-opener in Qatar falls at a busy scheduling point, in prime-time on Sunday evening – so to give the race the full live coverage it deserves the red button is the most appropriate available place for us to run it. Fans can then see a full re-run that evening on BBC One and HD.”

Most races will be screened live on BBC2 and HD, with the exception of the Saturday race at Assen, which will be live on the red button, with a re-run later.

Live MotoGP coverage will feature full pre-race build-ups and analysis, plus a 30-minute MotoGP Extra on the red button after the race, bringing immediate reaction from the experts and the riders themselves.

Live qualifying coverage of the 2012 MotoGP season, plus the Moto3 and Moto2 races, will all be available to view on the BBC red button and BBC online [UK users only].
The BBC team is again led by Matt Roberts, with Steve Parrish and Charlie Cox in the commentary box. Azi Farni remains the pitlane reporter.

Full BBC coverage details (All times BST)

Race 1 – Losail, Qatar, 8 April: BBCi 1930-2100 and BBC Sport website. Repeated BBC1 2320-0050.
Race 2 – Jerez, Spain, 29 April: BBC2 1230-1400 and BBC Sport website.
Race 3 – Estoril, Portugal, 6 May: BBC2 1230-1400 and BBC Sport website.
Race 4 – Le Mans, France, 20 May: BBC2 1230-1400 and BBC Sport website.
Race 5 – Catalunya, Spain, 3 June: BBC2 1230-1400 and BBC Sport website.
Race 6 – Silverstone, Great Britain, 17 June: BBC2 1230-1430 and BBC Sport website.
Race 7 – Assen, Netherlands, 30 June: BBCi 1230-1400 and BBC Sport website. Repeated 1 July, BBC2 1230-1400.
Race 8 – Sachsenring, Germany, 8 July: BBCi 1135-1300 and BBC Sport website. Highlights BBC2 2330-0030.
Race 9 – Mugello, Italy, 15 July: BBC2 1230-1400 and BBC Sport website.
Race 10 – Laguna Seca, United States, 29 July: BBC2 2159-2300 and BBC Sport website. Race 11 – Indianapolis, United States, 19 August: BBC2 1830-2000 and BBC Sport website. Repeated 20 August BBC2 0000-0130.
Race 12 – Brno, Czech Republic, 26 August: BBC2 1230-1400 and BBC Sport website.
Race 13 – Misano, Italy, 16 September: BBC2 1230-1400 and BBC Sport website.
Race 14 – Aragon, Spain, 30 September: BBC2 1230-1400 and BBC Sport website.
Race 15 – Motegi, Japan, 14 October: BBC2 0530-0700 and BBC Sport website. Repeated BBC2 1230-1400.
Race 16 – Sepang, Malaysia, 21 October: BBC2 0830-1000 and BBC Sport website. Repeated BBC2 1300-1415.
Race 17 – Philip Island, Australia, 28 October: BBC2 0430-0600 and BBC Sport website. Repeated BBC2 1245-1400.
Race 18 – Valencia, Spain, 11 November: BBC2 1230-1400 and BBC Sport website.