Celebrating 10 Years of David Emmett & MotoMatters

I want to take a break from our usual everyday slew of news and opinion, to give my dear friend David Emmett a moment in the spotlight (something I’m certain he will hate), as this week will mark ten years of David covering the MotoGP Championship.

David explains the genesis story of MotoMatters much better than I ever could, so I will just refer you to his posting today on the subject, which can be located on his site. Simply put although, what began out as a modest forum posting on the ADV Rider forum, has turned into a single of the most influential websites covering the MotoGP paddock.

As a mutual pal and colleague once mentioned to me, there is not a press officer, group member, or rider that doesn’t read MotoMatters with regularity, and there is good cause for that – such is David’s influence on Grand Prix motorcycle racing.

It is a surprise that he has achieved such a mantle in 10 short years.

But possibly it shouldn’t surprise any person then that David was the first purely online journalist, or “new media” as Dorna likes to contact us, to get a permanent credential for MotoGP.

And maybe it should also not surprise us as to why a MotoGP press conference is not over now till David has had his chance to pepper the riders with queries.

While David spent many words these days thanking the other folks that have helped him and MotoMatters accomplish their achievement (I am honored to be pointed out alongside such a peerless group), the reality is that there is a generation of “new media” journalists who have David to thank for the trail that he has blazed, which has been no effortless feat.

From that work although, MotoMatters is confirmation that on the web journalism can be as challenging-hitting and insightful as print media espouses to be, and David is evidence that an truthful living can be made, whilst not possessing to pander to the lowest typical denominator. I have lost track regarding how several extended-time journalists say that this can’t be feasible, but David is living proof that it is.

It is my excellent honor that we get to republish David’s operate here on Asphalt &amp Rubber, and it has been a rewarding experience making the Paddock Pass Podcast with him and the rest of our motley crew – even if he cannot pronounce the show’s name to save his life.

There are couple of things in life more rewarding than watching your friends succeed at what they really like to do, and I hope David has numerous decades ahead of him.

Hopefully he will continue to be that same old stubborn goat who thinks Linux is the answer to each technical issue, 3,000 words makes a short story, and that parking a vehicle with an automatic transmissions is one particular of life’s great mysteries. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Celebrating 10 Years of David Emmett & MotoMatters