During the commentary for the final race Keith Heuwen announced that Julian Ryder was hanging up his microphone - that was his last MotoGP commentary and Keith let Julian do the last lap. I just wanted to express my appreciation for the many happy hours I've spent listening to Julian Ryder since first getting a satellite TV system back in 1993. It has been particularly enjoyable to have Julian and Keith reunited as a team for the last few years.
It's going to be weird for the first few races in 2018 without him. All the best to Julian though in his future endeavours.
I never got to experience Ryder and Huewen's first stint together: I've been watching MotoGP since 2004 when it was on Eurosport, with Ryder alongside Toby Moody, Randy Mamola sometimes in the pitlane, and in the last couple of years of their coverage, with Neil Spalding providing the technical dimension to proceedings. That combination to me has been the best there has ever been in the time I've watched 2 or 4 wheel motorsport in its many guises, with Estoril 2006 and USA 2008 ranking among some of the best of their coverage quality. I've come to really appreciate the Ryder/Huewen combination since BT Sport took over the coverage, and it was clear to see (or hear in this case) in Valencia that both were sad to have reached the end of their partnership in the commentary box.
Nice touch, as you say, in letting Ryder cover the final lap of MotoGP in 2017. 👍
Also thanks to all the riders in MotoGP, WSB and BSB for some cracking racing this year. For me, MotoGP has been the most entertaining, but hopefully the rule changes in WSB will improve that series for 2018. BSB I felt would have been much better this year without the showdown, but I suppose that artificial format is here to stay.
MotoGP has been phenomenal this year, like 2016 but in a different way. The calibre of some of the rides, particularly in Japan, have been an absolute pleasure to watch. The series seems to be on an upward trajectory with no sign of stopping, not just in MotoGP, but Moto2 and Moto3 as well. Can't wait for the new season(s).
WSB was naive in thinking that the reverse grid idea would do anything to "improve the show". Just because you can stick a factory Ducati or Kawasaki on the 3rd row of the grid for race 2 doesn't mean it won't win. Every race this year was won by either bike (Ducati - 8, Kawasaki - 18), with at least one other bike that wasn't a factory Ducati/Kawasaki appearing on the podium only 5 times during the year (interestingly, every time it was a Yamaha ridden by either Lowes or van der Mark.) With Jonny Rea being utterly dominant in 2017, somehow I don't think the 2018 rules will change the status quo, but we'll see.
I was so gutted for Leon Haslam come the end of the BSB season: 4 times now the chance to become champion has alluded him. Amazing scenes though after the last race at Brands Hatch, when him and Shane Byrne got together amidst the celebrations of the latter's 6th title win. As for the showdown format, it's not what I'd call an improvement for the "show", but it is what it is.