It's entirely appropriate, isn't it, that a girl who made Boddington's famous should be the front woman for BT's version of MotoGP. It was probably the best beer ad ever made and it put a little known Lancashire brewery on the map.

Melanie Sykes is a reet crackin' Lancashire lass, learned to play music in a brass band and will be a gust of fresh air, much needed in TV's coverage of motorcycle sport. Can she do the same for MotoGP as she did for bitter?

Sniffy Southerners are already complaining:" What does she know about motorbike racing?" Well chaps, the trouble with some of our commentators is that they know far too much, ie they're up their own backside, which can make it extremely boring for the majority of people who want, of course, to be informed but entertained at the same time. And she's hosting the programme not explaining the myriad technicalities which her colleagues will, no doubt, explain to the n'th degree.

Mel has been a presenter, entertainer, model and TV host for most of her 43 years - a real professional. She has two kids and can look after herself in more ways than one as, allegedly, her second husband found out fairly recently! But enough of this tabloid gossip, what of her support team?

The return of Keith Huewen, teaming up again with Julian Ryder, is a good move. My only advice to these gentlemen, as a viewer, is to remember that we can see what is going on. This isn't radio. We want to know why and, perhaps, how. But in as few words as possible. And we would like your commentary to be objective with less of the, 'As I was saying to Valentino last night' stuff. But we would like to know what is going on behind the scenes. As a famous newspaper owner once said:" News is what somebody, somewhere doesn't want to see."

Neil Hodgson has the most difficult job, but an important one. Getting riders to talk on the grid, explaining what's going on as the seconds tick away is high pressure stuff. It will be a real test. And Suzi Perry, now plying her trade elsewhere, is a hard act to follow even after an absence of a couple of years.

Steve Parrish will be missed. He was both knowledgeable and humorous. However much BT are trying to distance themselves from previous broadcasters, the BBC and Eurosport, he should have been retained.

BT are to be applauded for taking a big risk in hiring Ms Sykes, a left-field appointment if ever there was one; with freshening up the team and for getting North One Productions, responsible for their brilliant TT coverage on ITV4 to produce. But if the bar is Sky's coverage of F1 then it will take an almighty jump. Good luck.

SILENCE IS... DEAFENING

Silence has descended on two - or is it three - of the more fascinating standoffs which will have an effect on two of the biggest events in the calendar, this year and next. The non-appearance of Ian Hutchinson and Josh Brookes at the TT is said, by those in the know, to be a done deal. The dispute between the ACU, the TT and team sponsors Milwaukee Yamaha seems to be unbridgeable.

Without commenting on the rights and wrongs of an argument over technicalities, the innocents - and the losers - in all this are the fans. Is it too late to agree to some form of mediation? It works in tougher situations than this.

And then we have no news from Silverstone where, the 850 acres having been sold to a business and leisure park developer, the race organising subsidiary of the BRDC, Silverstone Circuits, was on the brink of a management buyout funded by Lloyds Development Capital. They say that no news is often good news. In this case I think not. Somebody somewhere has realised you have to be pretty smart to make money from a racing circuit. Especially if you have rent to pay.

Part of the problem might be down to Dorna, promoters of MotoGP, whose contract with Silverstone is up for renewal, or not, after this year"s event. They have been playing off Silverstone against the new Welsh circuit where, as far as I know, enough sods have not yet been turned to give much confidence that a circuit will be built in time for next year, if at all. Dorna are well rewarded for turning up at Silverstone and, despite last year's big crowd, the Northamptonshire circuit owners will want to pay no more, even less.

It looks like a game of chicken with circuit boss Richard Phillips hoping Dorna's options disappear ( Donington being the other alternative but unlikely) leaving him playing another game - the only one in town.