If you are a subscriber to MotoAmerica’s live streaming and on-demand service, MotoAmerica Live+, then you know who Michael Hill is. If you haven’t sampled the goods over at MotoAmerica Live+ you should, and Michael Hill is a big reason for that. Simply put, the man can talk all day long about what’s happening on-track and when there’s nothing on-track, he ventures out to find fans to chat with. He’s a busy man.
What was your introduction to the motorcycle world?
I recall my parents telling me when I was small that I was named after a racing legend – Mike Hailwood – but as a child I wasn’t so interested in motorcycles. That changed when dad took me to Oliver’s Mount circuit, which is street course in the North of the UK. Being so close to the action, the noise, the smell, that was me hooked. I then went to numerous GP events, British Championship events and annually to the IOM TT – thanks Dad!
What led to you being a motorcycle racing broadcaster?
I was given an opportunity when I was still a teenager to attend the Dutch round of World Superbike for Superbike News – an online motorcycle news site. They were one of the first to stream pre-recorded audio interviews online and they asked me to carry out the first ever pre-recorded audio grid walk. I loved it and will forever be thankful to Frank Duggan for the chance he gave me. A couple of years later I was given a journalistic role by the then-organizers of the World Superbike Championship, INFRONT, and my career took off. I have been really fortunate to have people trust me, especially my childhood hero Wayne Rainey, who was a big part of bringing me to MotoAmerica.
What part of the job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy all aspects of my job. I know that sounds cliché, but I really do. I am so lucky to work in several global series and each one has its own appeal. I guess the one thing that is consistent throughout all the championships I work in is the passion of the fans and my role brings me close to them all around the world. So if I had to pick just one thing I enjoy most it would be playing a small part in creating a positive fan experience. Seeing the young fans leave the track with a smile or having met their racing hero reminds me of me when I was young and that’s something I am proud of – showing the fans of the future just how amazing motorcycle racing is.
What part of the job is the most difficult?
The most difficult part for me is making sure I don’t miss any flights . A lot of my events are back-to-back and involves me crisscrossing the globe so I am quite meticulous about my travel plans and luckily I have only missed one flight in the last 10 years
What do you like to do when you’re not at the racetrack?
Away from the track I am not really the ‘showman’ at all. I live quite a simple life. I enjoy going to the theatre as it allows me to switch off from being at 100 mph all the time. I live in London so there’s also plenty of restaurants and great places to go when I am home for a few days. I recently bought a property in the North East of the UK, which I called project Laguna (yes after Laguna Seca), and for the past year or so I have been renovating and modernizing it, which has been fun.
