World Superbikes revs into action on British Eurosport this weekend and commentator Steve Day speaks to Sport On The Box about his new full-time role covering the series in 2014.
Steve, pictured left alongside fellow Eurosport colleague and former rider James Haydon, has been appointed as the channel’s lead World Superbikes commentator, replacing the veteran Jack Burnicle who will concentrate full-time on British Superbikes for the channel.
With a deep passion for motorsport and strong roots in club racing, Steve has risen through the ranks at Eurosport after several seasons as a stand-in on its live superbikes and MotoGP coverage alongside other projects.
He was behind the microphone in Jerez last year when Tom Sykes became the fourth British rider in the 25-year history of World Superbikes to win the coveted title.
No longer an occasion super-sub, Day will now be the permanent voice of British Eurosport’s extensive coverage throughout the WSBK season, which includes live coverage of Superpole qualifying, plus both Superbike races and selected Supersport races.
SOTB spoke to Steve ahead of the season-opener on February 22-23 in Phillip Island about his broadcasting career so far, his full-time commentary role for 2014 and his views on the season ahead.
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Follow Steve on Twitter – @_SteveDay
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How did you get into motorcycling and broadcasting?
I have always loved motorsport and like many I was into Formula 1, but then I got into motorbikes.
My dad owns a car dealership and I worked for him as soon as I left school, but then he took on a salesman who used to race bikes and from there I got hooked and started watching it.
Then I started racing myself at the age of 15 through to about 20, but I wasn’t cut out to make it properly. I hurt myself frequently and it cost my dad a lot money.
Alongside that, I was really into media at school and loved having a microphone in my hand.
In 2008, my dad started up a motorcycle racing series with Dave Stewart, a well-known figure from the paddock, and asked if I’d be willing to come over and present the series, in between my job selling cars, and I loved it.
Then I got into commentary, which I actually enjoyed more than presenting, and then it snowballed from there.
One of the series that I was commentating on was being covered by Eurosport, so I contacted them and was given further opportunities from there.
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You have been a familiar voice on Eurosport’s bikes coverage for the past few years. How did your opportunity with the channel come about?
I got a phone call from one of the bosses at Eurosport in 2011 and they said to me that Toby Moody was going to be absent for one of the MotoGP rounds asked me would I step in.
That was a massive moment for me, one which I couldn’t believe was happening. It was a great opportunity and so I took it on.
Then I was told that Toby was going to be absent for a couple more rounds in 2012 and the bosses told me they thought I did an okay job of it so offered me the role again, so that’s where things really all kicked off for me at Eurosport.
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How much are you looking forward to your full-time role as British Eurosport’s voice of World Superbikes?
To be honest I’ve been so excited that it doesn’t even feel like its properly happening yet!
When I got the offer I was absolutely over the moon. It was a dream come true and definitely the biggest moment of my life.
I have been so used to stepping in for someone for a race weekend or two and picking up on a story halfway, but to be able to tell every chapter of the season is great, so I am really looking forward to the first round.
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Looking ahead to the action that you will be describing on the track, what are your thoughts about the 2014 season?
I think it is going to be a great year for the Brits again. The current crop of riders we have at the moment at world level, both in MotoGP and World Superbikes, is amazing and the fact that all of them are at their peak and riding well is, I hope, a sign of things to come.
Perhaps I would say this as I am commentating on it, but World Superbikes is definitely one of the championships to look out for as I think it has got the potential to be one of the most exciting years.
Tom Sykes won the world championship last year on the Kawasaki and he’s looking in good form. The bike looks good again and he will probably enter the year as favourite to retain his title.
He’s got a few big names to look out for in the Aprillas with former GP riders Sylvain Guintoli and Marco Melandri, but there are also another load of Brits that are following behind that.
I was at the Cresent Suzuki launch recently and was really encouraged to see how positive they are about this season.
They are the team a lot of eyes will be on this season and they’ve got two great riders in Alex Lowes and Eugene Laverty.
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What is it about World Superbikes that keeps on delivering British champions and successful race-winners?
It all comes down to way everybody comes up through the grassroots level and the choices riders have to make.
You can be the most talented young rider in the world but it is about the decisions you make from when you start out, mostly on 125cc machines before graduating up the ranks through the various junior categories.
Because the vast majority of our young riders go down the British Superbikes route, the natural progression is to then go onto World Superbikes.
I wouldn’t say it’s an easy transition, but it is certainly nowhere near as severe as it is to go to Grand Prix racing as MotoGP teams tend to focus on a different type of rider.
Although Britain is getting a few more GP riders coming through now, I think that because we have got such a strong domestic championship in BSB with such a huge following, it just makes sense for a lot of riders to go through that system.
It receives a lot of television coverage and sponsors like to get involved, so its easier to build up riders through the superbike ranks and from there they can evolve into successful racers at world level.
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Motorcycling racing has two major global series in MotoGP and World Superbikes. How would you compare the two championships?
I would be lying if I told you that World Superbikes is on a completely level playing field with MotoGP.
If you speak to them, I would the vast majority of World Superbike riders, probably about 90% of them, will tell you their dream is to become a MotoGP champion.
MotoGP riders, alongside the machinery and technology, are the very best of the best and quite a few of them have chosen not to go into World Superbikes before making the step up to GP racing.
The reason why Britain is so successful at World Superbikes and the reason why it has always been so popular in the UK is largely of one man – Carl Fogarty.
Foggy’s reign during the 1990s made everyone turn over and everyone wanted to see what he was doing on bikes which effectively you could go into a shop and buy.
Meanwhile at that time Mick Doohan was dominating Grand Prix races, most of which were bloody boring!
Personally though, I think the reason why GPs then became more popular in the early 2000s was because of Valentino Rossi, with his charisma, skill and talent which won a lot of people over and all of a sudden this divide between GPs and superbikes appeared.
There is no question that the World Superbike Championship is still a massive championship to win, but MotoGP is seen as the creme of the crop because it has all the major manufacturers, sponsors and the fastest bikes.
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With British Eurosport focusing on superbikes following the departure of MotoGP to BT Sport, what can fans expect on-screen this season?
British Eurosport will be doing everything we can to make both series as popular as ever and there have been a few changes ready for this year.
Both championships’ profile are going to be raised this year with former BBC MotoGP presenter Matt Roberts joining the team and all BSB events now receiving live Saturday qualifying coverage.
In terms of World Superbikes, we will be doing everything we can to promote the series as much as possible, so fans will see more behind-the-scenes features and interviews from the paddock.
The ‘Superbike Sunday’ format for when WSBK and BSB events clash on the same weekend will also stay, meaning we will be on the air from around 9.00am to 5.00pm with non-stop bikes.
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Watch the 2014 World Superbike Championship exclusively live on British Eurosport
Coverage starts with the opening round from Australia on February 22-23
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