Scott Jones, Ducati Corse

One of the things that has often struck me as I move around the track at a MotoGP round is the amount of cable Dorna sets up to deliver their TV coverage. Many kilometres of cables run around the entire circuit, are spliced into a complex network of amplifiers, antennas, and cameras, and eventually lead back to Dorna’s TV center in the paddock. In Qatar I was chatting with Pol Bardolet, one of the Dorna staff who is part of the TV and video production department, and he kindly arranged for me to speak with Sergi Sendra, Director of Dorna Sports TV Production. In Austin we sat down for a few minutes on Friday so that I could ask him about how he and his team deliver TV coverage of 18 rounds of Grand Prix racing.

MotoMatters: Most if not all of our readers regularly watch MotoGP on television, but I don’t think many of them have any idea how complicated it is for you to set that up for each race then get it packed up and on to the next event. So, to start off can you tell me a little bit about how you do it?

Repsol Paso Doble

That the two riders on the race billboards at COTA should use the colors of the Spanish flag seemed fitting somehow

Up the hill and into the first corner. They all made it, in all three classes

Marc Marquez, speedway style

Yellow & Chrome

It was ten years on Saturday since Daijiro Kato died. The paddock remembered

Psychedelic. The town, the track, the rider

Twist and go. And when Rossi twists, he really goes now

The indefatigible Mr Crutchlow

Race face. Marc Marquez' is one of the best

Hey! I think I see Tony up there! Hi Tony!

Ducati owners will tell you it's called "character"

Push to pass? Rocket power sees Crutchlow get past Pedrosa

No holding back

Scott Redding is ready, more ready than ever

Happiness: entering a corner knowing the bike will exit where you plan to

The Terminator. Lorenzo's lap times are as machine-like as ever

So far, the 04 is doing better than the 46. Dovizioso is surprising a few people

Stefan Bradl - only 10th fastest, but not for a lack of trying

Porfuera turns Tron: Jorge Lorenzo has glowing blue rings around his helmet

Marc Marquez' first day of school could be considered a success. Fourth, and fastest Honda

Happy, and it shows

The MotoGP class of 2013

Their steeds, an eclectic mix of machinery

With just over a week to go to the start of the 2013 MotoGP season, it's time to take another trip down memory lane and get ourselves excited about this season's racing. Today, shots from MotoMatters.com star shooter Scott Jones taken at Jerez. Remember also to check out the special offers Scott has on signed photos, including riders such as Casey Stoner, Cal Crutchlow and Nicky Hayden. Not long to go now...

Welcome to Spain!

Dani Pedrosa, working the Repsol Honda

With the 2013 MotoGP season due to start in just four weeks' time, it's time to take a trip down memory lane and get ourselves excited about this season's racing. To do so, over the next few weeks, we will be running an occasional series of shots by MotoMatters.com star shooter Scott Jones, taken at some of the rounds he attended last season. His stunning photos are a reminder of why we love motorcycle racing so much. Remember also to check out the special offers Scott has on signed photos, including riders such as Casey Stoner, Cal Crutchlow and Nicky Hayden. Not long to go now...

Qatar gave a glimpse of what was to follow in 2012: Jorge Lorenzo was a hard act to follow

Sadly, 2012 would be the last time we would see Casey Stoner on a MotoGP machine

Less sadly, it would also be the last time we would see Valentino Rossi on a Ducati MotoGP machine

I first met Paolo Castelli and Giuseppe Triossi of Clinical Mobile on a flight from Frankfurt to Doha in 2010. Having identified each other as heading for the MotoGP race, we got to chatting, half in English and half in Italian, about the coming season. The two had  just treated Marco Simoncelli for his crash during testing just before the season opener. Since then I have made a point of stopping by the CM when possible to say hello, and for some time have wanted to interview them about their work. At Valencia I spoke to Paolo on the morning of the Moto2 test when things were quiet in the CM facility. 

MotoMatters: Can you please describe your role at Clinica Mobile and what kind of things you do on a daily basis?

Ducati unveiled the 2013 Desmosedici GP13 MotoGP machines this evening. Here are the photos of the new livery, for the factory Ducatis of Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso, and the Team Pramac junior team of Ben Spies and Andrea Iannone. Photos courtesy of Ducati Corse.

The factory Ducati Team - Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden

Team Pramac, the factory-supported junior team - Andrea Iannone and Ben Spies

Taking the wraps off

The Ducati MotoGP team has gathered at the Italian ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio for the traditional 2013 season kickoff. Today, Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden arrived, and will be joined by Ben Spies and Andrea Iannone of the Pramac Ducati Junior team on Tuesday. Below is the press release from the first day, and some photos, courtesy of Ducati Corse:

Dovizioso and Hayden in the spotlights for Wrooom 2013

Madonna di Campiglio (Italy), 14 January 2013 – A light dusting of snow welcomed the arrival of Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden at Madonna di Campiglio for the twenty-third edition of the Wrooom Press Ski Meeting. The riders arrived in Trentino behind the wheel of an Audi dressed in special Wrooom colours.

Tomorrow morning, the two Ducati Team riders will hold the first press conference of the event that symbolically marks the start of the international motorsports season.

Preparations are almost ready for the unveiling of the Desmosedici GP13, scheduled for tomorrow evening in a mountaintop chalet at Madonna di Campiglio. In the meantime, the bikes were transported up the mountain, clearly under wraps, behind a snowcat, arousing the curiosity of the skiers on the slopes.

For years Phillip Island has been a track I'd planned to go to, but for one reason or another, it was a trip I'd not been able to make happen. I was ticking off other top locations such as Catalunya, Mugello, Assen, places that were Bucket List items for me both as a race fan and a photographer. But PI wouldn't cooperate.

As soon as Casey issued his surprise announcement that he was retiring, I knew I had to make it to Phillip Island. This time there could be no excuse: I had to see Casey ride at his home track, and this was my last chance. Fortunately for me, there was still some money in the bank from the Elbow Down edition to pay for airfare and expenses. And my wife, whose patience and kindness seem to know no bounds, agreed to manage the childcare without my help yet again this season. I booked the trip and held my breath.