BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation, or BBC, is currently the home of terrestrial coverage of the MotoGP series in Britain, with coverage both on television and online via the BBC.co.uk website.

The coverage is fronted by Suzi Perry with commentary coming from Charlie Cox and Steve Parrish with the current contract running until 2009 for broadcasting rights. In 2009, the BBC will also welcome back Formula 1, which it lost the rights to back in 1996.

Prior to that, the BBC had been the spiritual home of F1 with a dedicated show – Grand Prix – giving coverage of each event on the calendar. Murray Walker was the commentator on the show with former world champion James Hunt amongst the people to act as his right hand man. The show also featured one of the most iconic theme tunes in sport, with Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’ becoming synonymous with Formula 1 racing.

Even after losing its television coverage however, BBC Sport retained a presence in the Grand Prix paddock with live coverage of races on its radio station Five Live and sister digital station Five Live Sports Extra.

The BBC was also the home to both the World Rally Championship and the BTCC before losing the rights to Channel 4 and ITV respectively and has also provided coverage of both British and World Superbikes in the past.

However, MotoGP is currently the only major motorsport that features on BBC television.