Editor's Blog: What To Expect From MotoMatters.com For 2022

By David Emmett | Tue, 01/02/2022 - 13:50

As MotoMatters.com enters its 17th season (a number I can barely believe), it is a good moment to examine the past and look ahead to the future. The past two years have been strange and hard, for personal and pandemic-related reasons. But they have also provided a good opportunity to review what MotoMatters has done best in the past, and the direction we should pursue in the future.

In the past, I have sometimes struggled to maintain the frenetic pace of writing about MotoGP for a living, and trying to cover absolutely everything that happens. The longer I have been doing this, the more I have come to realize that trying to capture every detail and cover every insignificant news update is a waste of my time and yours.

My wife, who is right about pretty much everything (which is why I married her in the first place), likes to point out that my strength, and the strength of MotoMatters.com as a whole, is in analyzing and explaining the background to MotoGP. Reporting on what happened is neither challenging nor interesting. Explaining how and why it happened is far more interesting. Pretty much anyone can note that a Ducati hit 362.4 km/h on the front straight at Qatar. It is far more rewarding and fascinating trying to figure out and explain how Ducati managed to hit that speed. And why at the end of the season, it still couldn't help them beat Fabio Quartararo on his 12 km/h slower Yamaha M1.

More rewarding, but it is also much, much more time-consuming. Not just in terms of research - the number of projects I have given up on purely due to a lack of time to delve into something is enormous - but also in terms of analyzing and writing on it. It seems I am incapable of summing up complex subjects in 200 words. I would rather spend 2000 words examining it from every angle.

That, I believe, is the future of the website. MotoMatters.com is the place you come to understand MotoGP, not to find out what just happened. But explaining takes time, and that means a slight change of focus. This year, I will worry less about providing a constant stream of news updates and articles, and more on writing in-depth analysis of the background to it all.

So there will be fewer and less frequent updates, but the articles on the site will be longer, more analytical, more in-depth. If a website is to have a niche, that will be ours.

It will take me a while to find the right balance, and figure it all out. So I hope you, reader, will bear with me while I do that.

There will of course still be updates at the end of each day of practice, and a deep dive into the hows and whys of each race. There will be more interviews this year, as I will be attending more races again in 2022, starting with the Sepang MotoGP test on February 5th and 6th. I hope to interview the people behind the sport, as well as the more familiar faces.

Attending races is, of course, a costly lark. The pandemic has changed travel in all sorts of ways. Intercontinental flights have gotten a little cheaper, while rental car prices have shot up to astronomical levels. Accommodation is a bargain at some races, while absolutely astronomical at others. It is a different world out there.

So I, and the amazing team of writers behind MotoMatters.com, rely on the support and generosity of our Site Supporters, Patreon patrons, and direct donations. They are the cornerstone of the site, and the subscriber-only content is our attempt to reward them. Site Supporters do not just get access to subscriber-only content, they literally ensure the continuing existence of the website.

So thanks, as ever, kind people. I hope we will be able to live up to your expectations. And above all, I hope we will be able to offer something you won't be able to find anywhere else.

You can help by either taking out a subscription, supporting us on Patreon, by making a donation via Paypal, helping out via Ko-fi, or contributing via our GoFundMe page. You can find out more about subscribing to MotoMatters.com here.

To read the rest of this article, you need to sign up to become a MotoMatters.com site supporter by taking out a subscription. You can find out more about subscribing to MotoMatters.com here. If you are already a subscriber, log in to read the full text.

This is part of a regular series of unique insights into the world of motorcycle racing, exclusive for MotoMatters.com site supporters. The series includes interviews, background information, in-depth analysis, and opinion, and is available to everyone supporting the site by taking out a subscription.

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Comments

And this one sounds excellent to me. Your commentary and analysis is why I hang around this place anyway, so more and better of that is ideal. As far as "what" happens at a race, I expect most subscribers here watch them several times (I know I do) and look at other web sites as well, so that's all covered. Good luck with the season and the travel!

I and probably most of motomatters subscribers already saw the race so to hear that you're focussing on the really interesting angles - in other words concentrating on what you do best and, quite honestly, the reason I and probably most others keep coming back.

Have a great season David.

I subscribe for a) The race weekend updates, b) Your interpretation on how the race unfolded vs. what I thought I saw, and c) the interviews. Those are the three most important reporting to me. The proposed deep technical explanations not so much. I realized a large portion of your supporters want exactly that, but it's not a priority for me. I hope it helps your business, though, because you'll still be offering a, b and c for readers like me. Thanks for your work.

Just think of the discussion the old "Ducati's Trouble" thread had. Intelligent conversation post-article is also why I come here, even though I often don't offer any myself - key word - intelligent.

The pics and insights offered on the new RC was quality. Breaking down post-tests on who moved what sensors where increases the collective knowledge of the community here.

That's where it's at mate.
 

I come for the race reports and stay for the analysis and commentary.  I am one who does not watch the races, except maybe much later on YouTube. I’m from a generation (in the US) where we had to wait a few days to check Cycle News, or a few months to check a magazine, to find out if Agostini had won another race, or Phil Read had beat him. So although I’ve been an Internet user since before the WWW (rec.motorcycles anyone?) I still appreciate the timely reports and results. 

Ha ha, I remember the old rivalry; We don't care how the hell they do it in...  :)

Though I don't remember how it came about, or even what it was about.

I was stationed in the Philippines with the USAF when KR was raising havoc over in Europe, so it made more sense to have the papers come from the West Coast. Left Coast kid anyway.

Those days GP Racing didn't even rate a mention in the daily U.S. papers.

While I'm maybe a slightly more recent supporter (SEVENTEEN YEARS??!??!), I'm buying whatever you're selling.  This is one of the few sites of any of my hobbies and interests that I devour every word, often multiple times to soak it all in. 

Thanks, Mr. Emmett.  Here's to a happy and successful 2022.

I love and appreciate the new direction,  thanks for all you do. I'd ask you, David plus any commenter too, for me or others, what other sites or sources does everyone like for the "what"? I watch races and some qualies and FPs but still like to see if I missed anything.  Thanks!

"It seems I am incapable of summing up complex subjects in 200 words. I would rather spend 2000 words examining it from every angle." - We, the beneficiaries, are grateful. Keep those 2K-word posts coming! 

Thank you for sharing your decision-making process here, too, David.

that sounds terrific!

"...Explaining how and why it happened is far more interesting..."  Abso-freaking-lutely! And we are much more well-informed readers for your efforts.

Been following GP roadracing since the King Kenny days. Hot damn, nigh on 45 years! Anyone remember Air Mail subscriptions to Cycle News?  :)

This has become, as I've said many a time before, my sole source for MotoGP news. No need to go anywhere else!

Oh, and MotoGP.com, but only to watch the races and some qualifying.

Sounds great to me.  Is it too much to hope that race analysis might also get prioritised over the rider/team/contract controversy of the day? 

I can’t remember how many years ago it was, but it’s at least ten, where I first read your words.  It was an extremely in depth analysis of the Ducati MotoGP bike, specifically how it was winning at the time with Stoner.  Amazing article, in depth, but written in a way that I could understand and more importantly, helped me appreciate the races that came after reading it.  Even though I’ve gotten a lot from your work since then, I am very excited to see more of that!  Looking forward to ‘22, starting with Sepang.

David, as everyone above has said in their own way I also appreciate the great effort you and your team are doing to satisfy my passionate MotoGP needs. This is also the only website I subscribe too, and it is my first go to pretty much every morning. Looking forward forward to your 2022 editions 😀

As always right on the money David, I can't imagine many people on this sight that don't actually watch the race, so don't really need to be told what happened on lap 3/4 etc, although I do enjoy your views on  that. I pay annually for the deeper understanding that you and the team (especially Zara) give over anybody else. Worth every penny.

Completely get where you are going and glad to continue support for your excellent words and analysis. It must be said that your wordsmithing and comprehensive insights are the best, and I look forward to them again in 2022. You greatly enhance the enjoyment of MotoGP, and together with the insights and historical reference points from Mat Oxley, bring us the best possible experience. And another great year of two-wheel racing begins!

Hard to believe it’s been 17 years David. I chanced upon your site at the time through a mention by Dennis Noyes in his column on the Speed TV website. Well that site is dead (I think?) and yours is about the only I go to now. Whatever you need to do to adjust your work-life balance please do it!! If it means longer, more in-depth analysis instead of describing who passed who on what lap, I for one am more than happy to support you!! 

Long-time reader, first-time commenter, finally a supporter, for all the reasons you and the rest of this erudite community have just stated.  Looking forward to another fantastic year!

This is great to read. In the past I have to admit to scanning through the press dumps and savoring the in depth analysis. I have read and reread several. 

In addition to echoing all the support in the comments above, I would request that your titles of each post avoid spoilers. Which you--mostly--do already.

I watch every race, but rarely see them live due to my local time zone. So, on Sunday morning I never look at MotoMatters for fear of the result being revealed. Therefore I miss out on your Saturday analysis, which might enrich and inform my viewing of the race(s). 

I started out following your posts over at ADV Rider. I can’t believe it’s been that long!  And before the powers-that-be forced you to change the site name. You’re long-form analysis is what drew me in and keeps me here. Here’s to a great 2022!

The old site was great!

TRIUMPH

Not happy - why have this area so big on the left here? Then the comment area stacked so thin on the right? It was so much better before. NOT HAPPY. And DISCORD?! Not sticking around.

Motoshrink

1 year ago

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I vote we give you a 10% raise David. Annual fee should be following cost of living increases. Those average 3% per yr?

I'm a "resourceful" Scottish tightwad, so if I say it...

$43.29 (easy peasy)

Thanks to you all, firstly for your kind comments, secondly for your responses, and thirdly for pointing out what you like and what's important to you. Knowing what you read is really important, and helps with planning and decision making.

And the reports from Zara and Jared are staying for as long as they care to keep writing for me (and I can afford to pay them). They help provide the context for the rest.