Both the World and British Superbikes will have a distinctly Huddersfield feel this year as Matt Roberts will anchor British Eurosport’s coverage of both championships.
The 36-year-old TV presenter, who hails from Fixby and lives in Stainland, was announced as the new face of the channel’s coverage for the coming season.
Roberts had spent several years with the BBC as part of their MotoGP coverage – initially as a pit-lane reporter before becoming the main anchor – but has made the switch to Superbikes to work for Eurosport.
Alongside World Superbikes champion Tom Sykes and pundit James Whitham – the former British champion – Roberts will add further Huddersfield connections to a sport with already numerous links to the town.
His work begins on Sunday, February 23, when he will present coverage of the first World Superbikes meet of the season in Australia.
“I am really excited about joining the British Eurosport team,” said Roberts, who was a student at All Saints Catholic College and plays football for Huddersfield YMCA in the Yorkshire Amateur League.
“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 James Haydon and James Whitham.
“I have known James Haydon since he raced a few MotoGP races back in 2004 and I think he’s made a really good transition to broadcasting, which is not easy at all.
“Whit comes from Huddersfield, like me, and we get on well so hopefully the three of us will make a strong team.
“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, so I can’t wait to get started on our World Superbike coverage from Phillip Island.”
Roberts’ new role will involve a lot less travelling, as the World Superbikes coverage will be spearheaded from a studio in this country, while the majority of British Superbike races are – as the name suggests – across Britain (with one taking place in Assen in the Netherlands).
Roberts admitted that played a big part in his decision to join Eurosport, after his former employers BBC Sport lost the rights to show MotoGP to BT Sport.
“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,” he added.
“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.
“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.
“There aren’t many sports in the world with the adrenaline and drama of motorcycle racing and it is such a privilege to be a part of that show, so I am delighted I get to continue doing the job I really love. BSB is the best domestic championship in the world and I can’t wait to get started.”
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