It was all so good last year, before the one of the two BBC Red Button streams on Freeview was turned off to make way for Freeview HD. I probably wouldn’t be so bitter if Freeview HD wasn’t two years away where I live. So now I have one fewer interactive channel, and no HD. It’s a lose-lose situation.

Formula 1 coverage is affected, most significantly in that the only way to listen to BBC 5 Live commentary is by watching the on-board camera stream. Which is clearly a daft thing to watch for any extended period of time. But at least practice sessions tend to make it to the single BBC Red Button channel on Freeview, and of course qualifying is on a proper channel.

Not so MotoGP. The BBC doesn’t have to do much to anger MotoGP fans – Charlie Cox tends to do a good enough job of that on his own. So last night’s MotoGP qualifying from Bahrain being bumped down the BBC Red Button order, and thus off Freeview entirely, has not gone down well. Especially since it was bumped in favour of Masters Golf, which was also being covered on BBC Two.

The same is happening tonight for the 125cc and Moto2 races: they’re on the BBC Red Button, but not on Freeview, because Masters Golf will be instead. At the same time as Masters Golf is on BBC Two. So instead of broadcasting two races with potentially front-running British riders – Bradley Smith in 125cc, Scott Redding in Moto2 – the BBC is doubling up on Masters Golf coverage. Yeah, thanks for that.

I can’t argue that 125cc and Moto2 races have a broader appeal than Masters Golf. They don’t. But Masters Golf is already being broadcast on one channel, so what justification is there? I have no idea. I’ve asked the BBC for comment, and we shall see if I get a response.

Meanwhile, I shall have to watch the support races on my laptop via the BBC Sport website. It’s 125cc at 6pm, Moto2 at 7.15pm. Then it’s MotoGP on BBC Three – which has annoyed yet more people – at 9pm, the build-up starting an oh-so-generous 15 minutes earlier.

Yes, the BBC does treat MotoGP a bit like Formula 1′s embarrassing little sister, best kept out of sight. But at least it’s all out there somewhere, free to watch, even if only online. And there are promising signs: new presenter Jennie Gow has been given a blog, and reporter Matt Roberts is as confused and frustrated as we are. Let’s hope they’re given a chance to improve the BBC’s MotoGP coverage.