BT Sport has unveiled details of its MotoGP programming plus presenters and commentary team ahead of next month’s start to the 2014 season.
The channel has exclusive rights to the sport for the next five years and is promising “comprehensive coverage” both on TV and via its app which will host exclusive ‘second screen’ content.
Coverage starts on March 18 with a special preview show which will include interviews with all the top riders and action from the key official pre-season tests.
In addition to live broadcasts of practice and qualifying sessions and races from the FIM MotoGP season, BT says it will bring fans “full coverage” of the Moto2 and Moto3 races.
There will also be a new hour-long programme, MotoGP Tonight, broadcast after every Grand Prix weekend.
BT Broadband, BT TV customers and Sky customers who get the BT Sport channels direct from the ISP will be able to use its app to choose between seven camera views, including four cameras fitted to bikes, a helicopter view and live timing and tracking screens.
Full races and highlights including interviews and features will also be available to watch.
The app is only available to customers who get the channels from BT, meaning Plusnet and Virgin Media customers will be unable to access the extra camera views.
BT says live race coverage will usually start on Friday mornings, providing fans with around five hours of coverage each day, although the night-time event in Qatar will be an exception to this with additional coverage on Thursday March 20.
In addition to programming details, BT Sport has announced the presenters and commentators who will front its coverage.
Model and TV presenter Melanie Sykes will oversee race weekends alongside MotoGP experts, former British and World Superbike Champions, Neil Hodgson and James Toseland.
The channel has also hired former Eurosport MotoGP commentator Julian Ryder who be joined by British Champion Keith Huewen and Motorcycle News chief grand prix correspondent, Matt Birt.
Craig Doyle and former Olympian and European and Commonwealth games 400 metres champion and biker, Iwan Thomas will present MotoGP Tonight and Gavin Emmett has been hired as MotoGP reporter.
BT says coverage will be based on-site at each event with additional studio coverage coming from its studio at the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London.
Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “It’s really exciting to be launching such a thrilling new sport on BT Sport, with a tremendous new team and what we believe will be a fresh approach to MotoGP and some fantastic new shows.
“MotoGP is the top, two-wheeled motorsport. It’s massive in the UK and we’re heading into it at full throttle and following every second of the action. We’re sure we’ll appeal to committed fans, but we also think we will win over and welcome new fans to the sport.”
Manel Arroyo, managing director, Dorna Sports, said: “I’m pleased that MotoGP is part of such a huge and exciting project as BT Sport. I’m sure that BT Sport will provide the in-depth coverage that MotoGP deserves so that British fans can follow the fortunes of British riders in the Championship.”