DON'T READ THIS IF YOU'VE RECORDED THE BRITISH SUPERBIKE RACING TODAY. How would you feel if, after six months of hard motorcycle racing you lost out in the very last race by coming second and missing out on the British Supersport Championship by two points? Myself, I'd be just a bit disappointed. This is what happened to Ben Wilson this afternoon at Brands Hatch and almost before he had taken his crash hat off Eurosport's interviewe, Tony Carter, shoved a microphone in his face asking ' You've just missed out on the Championship Ben, what's going through your mind right now?' Wilson was almost in tears and his mum, standing not too far away certainly was. I think I would have used that crash helmet for a purpose it wasn't intended for.
In the big, final race of the day (and the BSB season, come to that), the decider of The British Superbike Championship, Tommy Hill (from Lingfield) won the race and the Championship in a thrilling race by 0.006 of a second from his nearest rival, the American John Hopkins who would have won the crown if he'd come first. Imagine your feelings if , again, after six months of racing you lost out by such a tiny margin. But that didn't stop our intrepid interviewer from asking exactly the same question as an emotional Hopkins got off his 'bike. I swear murder was in Hopkins' eyes as he managed to mumble a couple of words into the microphone. But our man wasn't to be denied, as once again he started asking follow up questions of an almost incoherent Hopkins.
I know it's the bloke's job to get the views and opinions of the people concerned in such competitions, but shouldn't there be some feeling for their emotions in such situations?
Anyone got any other examples of such interviewing techniques?
P.S. Even if you aren't a 'bike racing fan, try to see the 2nd. race of the BSB Championship, it's one of the most exciting races I've ever seen. I'm sure Eurosport will be repeating it during the week.
Comments
I remember the Raoul Moat thing when the live reporter was prompting a distraught woman on the phone to her mum who was in the firing line of the loon who as of then hadnt been cornered if i remember rightly. The poor cow was in a total state of shock understandably telling her mum what to do etc and this utter burke of a reporter was pushing her and interrupting her conversation to find out what was going on for a bit of sensationilsm.
"How do you feel Mick?"
On a similar note i remember seeing a journeyman boxer being interviewed and he werent the brightest spark bless him.
It went something like:
Interviewer: You took a pretty bad beating in your last fight, what state were you in afterwards?
Boxer: What state? (long pause for thought)..................Idaho.
You want some insensitive interviewing? Try the idiot Stephen Nolan on 5Live at the weekends. Here's a typical one from him...
To a recently bereaved parent - "What's it like to lose a child?"
Two championships sorted out in the last lap of the last race, with the main championship seeing the two leaders swapping positions repeatedly in the last lap of the race and ending up with a rizla (suzuki) paper between them. Local hero wins the championship at his home race against the affable GP star. Man, I'm sorry, but I wanted to know what Hopper had to say. After a MotoGP season so tedious it's like watching 2 wheeled formula one it's great that BSB continues to provide that quality and excitement for a budget price. It's a shame for Wilson, I'm at that level they take massive risks for fairly limited reward. In fairness to Eurosport (who provide great coverage) I suspect they had to be a bit more rapid with the interviews as everything was on a hurry up with a few red flags delaying the racing and light fading.
Sorry to drift off topic, but BSB deserves a massive big up.
Shame Hopkins didn't win this year as he's absolutely class - but Hill is a deserved winner. Kind of happy Byrne didn't win; as fast as he is, it's good to have new blood winning the championship.
McLovin, I agree with all you say re; Eurosport's coverage and presentation and they had the sort of racing in all catogries that you can usually only dream about. It just got to me that Carter seemed unaware of the emotions involved and pressed on regardless with his questions. It would have been better to have had the press/TV outside the parc ferme for a minute or two then given Eurosport first option to have the interviews. But no matter, the racing was what really mattered and it was, as you say, tremendous, and even my missus was cheering Tommy on (he sometimes rides his mountain bike round our way).
John Higgins lost his father a few months before winning the world snooker championship this year.
He was interviewed by Hazel Irvine afterwards. In the first couple of questions she was trying get around to talking about his father. Higgins veeerd away from that and answered that he was happy to win, opponent played well etc.
Then Irvine had to push it one more time and said something like 'There will be someone in heaven having a dram for you to tonight', at this point HIggins broke down in tears.
What a bitch I thought, she just had to push it to get some tears.
This event. Brands Hatch.
Was any models there?
Yes, I think he must have ridden old Triumphs as a boy: you get to take terrible handling and roadholding as a matter of course. :-)
I can't particularly see the sense in 1000cc machines; but it does mean that it'll be more of an even playing field. Hopefully Ducati (owning one myself) will start competing. Lot of pressure on Rossi, JB etc... in the off season.
Went to BSB at Knockhill this year. Despite pissing down, and having a spill on the way there, was a cracking day.