Jacob Bailey, EMG Camera Operator and Guarantee, explains his role on the bike coverage of the London Marathon

I joined EMG eight years ago starting out on the Technical Assistant training scheme.  I learnt to fibre splice which gave me the opportunity to go out on jobs, fibre splice during the rig and then assist the camera department during the TX. I initially started working on the Match of the Day contract working on the various camera positions for the coverage.  Since then I’ve worked on a large variety of jobs; from Test Match Cricket to The Open Golf to festivals and awards shows. 

EMG have delivered the OB coverage of the Marathon since 2014.  It’s a huge delivery with essentially 5 OB sites, 200 crew, specialist cameras and lots of RF!  Early on, when I joined the camera department, I assisted on the finish of the Marathon and was given the chance to be involved in the relief crew.  A few years later, in 2018, I worked at the unusual setting for the start of the race at Windsor Castle.  That year the Queen was the official starter for the race, pressing the start button within the grounds of the Castle. 

2022 was my first year on the bikes. At the time, our Director of Operations, Dave White, was head of the camera department and approached me with the opportunity to work on the bike coverage.  He asked if I’d be happy if my name was chucked into the hat to be considered.  Fortunately for me I was accepted to be one of the camera operators on the bikes and this year, six months after the last London Marathon, I was given the opportunity again.

I have a passion for bikes which began at an early age and have competed in a variety of disciplines.  I’ve recently started racing Flat Track, competing in the DTRA UK national series.  Races predominantly take place on speedway track but there’s some use of larger horse racing tracks and TT courses.  Compared to Speedway, flat track bikes use just a rear brake competing in heat races made up of 12 riders consisting of 8 laps which leads to a main final of 15 laps.  I completed my first season last year and have just started this year’s racing hoping to carry on learning and reach that top step of the podium and the taste of champagne!

Having had my first chance of operating on the bikes in October 2022, it was great to go into this year with some experience and knowing what to expect.  Even so, the challenges are still there.  Operating in a helmet causes awkward head angles to be able to view comfortably in the monocular.  For April’s Marathon we were provided with an adaptor to extend the mounting.   To be able to cope with the uneven surface and the bumps along the course we use a stabilized lens to ensure a smoother shot.  Again, thanks to the experience I gained in 2022 I was more confident and comfortable plus it gave me the opportunity to experiment a little with different camera positions such as holding the camera low off the bike. 

This year I was assigned to the women’s Elite Race, meaning I would be facing backwards on the bike to the direction of travel.  The only chance we have to practice is when we do a recce of the route on the Saturday before the Marathon.  As the course is still live roads at this point practicing facing backwards means we get some odd looks from the public!

Media Motos provide the bikes for the Marathon with EMG Connectivity providing the links.  A good rapport with the pilot of the bike is key to providing smooth and varied coverage.  During the race the bike pilot will give me updates on what obstacles, road furniture, sharp turns and roundabouts are approaching. I in turn give updates on what action is happing within the race, if I’m wanting a particular shot I will communicate with the pilot so that he’s able to manoeuvre the bike and ourselves into position. It’s definitely a working partnership and my thanks go to the Media Motos team for all their help during the event.  I’m looking forward to the next one and to completing my second season racing Flat Track!