Motorsport on TV in 2009 – that’s the theme for this last normal week of the year

Although he was a slightly curious choice, I thought Olympic rower James Cracknell was rather suited to presenting ITV‘s British Superbike coverage. Conversely, I thought former superbike rider James Haydon was rather ill-suited to television.

But it was Haydon fronting the coverage all season in 2009, and it wasn’t a bad move: for me he’s the most improved element of any motorsport coverage this year. There was never any doubting that he’s qualified and knowledgeable, it just took a while for him to relax in front of the camera and start talking more like a human being and less like a robot.

By the end of the year, Haydon’s little grid walks were quite a highlight of the coverage. Which, given that ITV uses Eurosport’s commentary by Jack Burnicle and James Whitham, is some compliment.

Almost needless to say, Burnicle and Whittam remain the country’s foremost motorsport commentary team. They strike the right balance between excitable and funny, and actually describing what’s going on. They are a joy.

There’s no reason to think that much should change for the 2010 season. ITV4 will have highlights on the Wednesday after each race weekend, rather than the Saturday, which is only an improvement. Otherwise, more of the same please!