Former BBC MotoGP presenter Matt Roberts has joined British Eurosport to anchor its coverage of the 2014 MCE British Superbike Championship and Superbike World Championship.
Roberts will be on-site for all British Superbike races, including the new shows on Saturday that will show live British Superbike qualifying and the Supersport sprint race.
He will be joined for all the thrilling BSB action by former superbike riders James Haydon and James Whitham and commentator Jack Burnicle.
In addition to his British Superbike duties, Roberts will present British Eurosport’s World Superbikes coverage.
“I am really excited about joining the British Eurosport team,” said Roberts, who has joined the pan-European channel on a two-year deal.
“The British Superbike series is a really vibrant and competitive championship and I‘m looking forward to getting on-site and getting round some of the iconic British tracks in the company of the Jameses; Haydon and Whitham.
“Showing Superbike qualifying and the Supersport sprint race live on Saturday will give fans even more live action and will give all of us more time with the riders and the teams to get under the skin of the championship and get to know the personalities.”
Roberts’ first job will be presenting race action from the opening round of the World Superbike Championship from Phillip Island.
“It was fantastic to watch Tom Sykes win such a close World Superbike title last year and it promises to be just as close this year.
“With a strong core of British riders like Chaz Davies, Leon Haslam, Alex Lowes, Jonathan Rea and reigning champion Tom Sykes, I can’t wait to get started on our World Superbike coverage from Phillip Island in a month or so.”
Roberts, 36, was part of the BBC’s MotoGP presenting team from 2006 to 2013, firstly as a reporter before being promoted to the main anchor role full-time in 2011, but has worked in and around the MotoGP paddock since 2001.
MotoGP coverage has switched from the BBC and Eurosport to BT Sport for the 2014 season and Roberts was a contender to be part of the new channel’s coverage of grand prix motorcycling.
In an interview with Bennetts Bike Social, Roberts confirmed that he had preliminary discussions with BT Sport before deciding to take the Eurosport role.
“Obviously I spoke to BT about their plans for MotoGP but I decided early last year, when I knew the BBC contract would not be renewed, that I didn’t want to travel to the races any more,” said Roberts.
“It’s something I had been thinking for a couple of years and after being on the road since the start of the 2001 season, this seemed the right opportunity to make the break.
“I discussed a studio role with BT but it didn’t go much further than that and as soon as Eurosport approached us I was really interested in what they had to offer.”
British Eurosport managing director David Kerr said: “I am really pleased Matt has agreed to join the motorbike team at British Eurosport, the Home of Bikes.
“I enjoyed his work on MotoGP and particularly the way he built strong relationships with the riders.
“I know he’ll continue that across our BSB and World Superbike coverage as well as fitting in really well with the respected analysts and commentators we have already.
Kerr also acknowledged the work of British Eurosport’s previous superbikes presenter Tony Carter, who fronted the channel’s BSB coverage since it began in its current form in 2008.
“I would like to thank Tony Carter for the passion, knowledge and ability he has brought to our coverage over the years and we wish him well for the future.”
British Eurosport will show every round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship live and in high-definition as part of its extensive two-wheel motorsport coverage in 2014.
As well as BSB, the pan-European channel will also cover every round of the Superbike World Championship, plus Speedway Grand Prix and World Motocross action.
