Startline - Road Racing podcast

Beth Espey
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Startline is a podcast about all things road racing.  Radio TT and Manx Grand Prix presenter Beth Espey talks to riders, teams and organisers of events both on the Isle of Man and further afield to find out what it really takes to earn a spot on the grid. If you would like to get involved, email beth@startline.im

  1. 2d ago

    Startline Ep 47 - Andrew Coulter: The dream that wouldn’t go away

    This week on Startline, we meet Andrew Coulter -  a Manx Grand Prix 2026 newcomer from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, who has spent years quietly carrying a dream that first started when he was just a kid riding bikes in the street. Andrew’s route to the Mountain Course hasn't been instant or easy. There have been gaps, setbacks, crashes, work pressures, family life and all the usual chaos that comes with trying to go racing while also running your own business. But through all of that, the same thing has kept pulling him back: the feeling that if he did not give this a proper go, he would regret it forever. In this conversation, Andrew talks about learning to ride with his brother in the front garden, getting back on track after confidence-knocking accidents, the moment his MGP newcomer email arrived while he was halfway through a service at work, and the reality of preparing for the Mountain Course with a very full to-do list. We also talk about family, fear, support, sidecars(will he passenger or drive...?), paddock life, and what success really looks like for a newcomer: qualifying, finishing, and coming home safe. You can follow Andrew's progress on Facebook here and Instagram here. The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club, the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. Startline is on Facebook and Instagram, so please give the pages a follow and keep up to date with the latest episodes and see some extra content. And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

    26 min

  2. Jun 11

    Startline Ep 46 - Stephen Walsh: Juggle if you want to go faster

    What makes someone spend years chasing a dream that most people would never dare attempt? And what is it about road racing that keeps people coming back, despite the risks, the setbacks, and the sacrifices? In this episode, Beth Espey sits down with Irish road racer and psychologist Stephen Walsh, whose life is split between brain injury rehabilitation by day and classic motorcycle racing at weekends. And while they discuss Stephen's own road racing journey, this conversation goes far beyond motorcycles. Drawing on his work as a psychologist, Stephen explores the fascinating links between performance, resilience, attention, and mindset. Why do some people thrive under pressure? How much of success comes down to talent, and how much is shaped by environment? And what can road racers teach the rest of us about overcoming setbacks and achieving our goals? Along the way, you'll hear about the unique camaraderie of the road racing community, the strange calm of standing in No Man's Land before a race, why visualisation matters, and Stephen's intriguing theory that juggling might actually make you faster on a motorcycle. Whether you're a racer, a sports fan, or simply interested in what makes people tick, this is a fascinating insight into the psychology of performance and the enduring appeal of life on two wheels. You can find Stephen on Facebook here The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club, the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. Startline is on Facebook and Instagram, so please give the pages a follow and keep up to date with the latest episodes and see some extra content. And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

    42 min

  3. Jun 4

    Startline Ep 45 - Brandon Kavanagh: From paddock crew to Manx Grand Prix rider

    In this episode, we meet Brandon Kavanagh - a 27-year-old racer from County Wexford who is already making his mark on the roads. Brandon made his Manx Grand Prix debut last year, hitting his target of a 110mph lap, and he’s now preparing to return with the Roadhouse Macau Racing Team on a new Suzuki GSX-R 750. But Brandon’s story isn’t just about riding. He’s grown up around bikes, works long days before heading home to prepare machines in the shed, and has spent years helping Brian McCormack in the paddock. We talk about family, hard work, the cost of racing, learning the Mountain Course, his first road race win at Cookstown - and why, after getting that first taste of the Manx, he’s determined to come back faster. You can follow Brandon on Facebook here and Instagram here.  The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club, the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. Startline is on Facebook and Instagram, so please give the pages a follow and keep up to date with the latest episodes and see some extra content. And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im  You can also follow the Roadhouse Macau Racing team here.

    25 min

  4. May 28

    Startline Ep 44 - Andy Farrell: Let the speed to come to you - and if you need a wee...go

    In this episode of Startline, Beth Espey is joined by Irish road racer Andy Farrell - a rider with two Manx Grand Prix wins, membership of the Tommy Club, and more than a few stories from a life spent around bikes. Andy’s love of racing started in Skerries and what began as a fairly impulsive decision to go road racing turned into a 20-year journey through Irish national road races, the Manx Grand Prix, podiums, crashes and comebacks. This is a funny, honest and hugely entertaining conversation. Andy talks about the Honda RS250 that lives in his front room, why the road racing paddock means so much to him, the highs and lows of racing on the Mountain Course, and what it felt like to win twice at the Manx Grand Prix in 2018. While Andy reflects on the tougher side of the sport, above all, this is a conversation about passion. About the people, the friendships, the family support, and the pull of the Isle of Man that keeps bringing riders like Andy back. And there are some top life tips thrown in there as well... You can follow Andy on Facebook here and Instagram here. The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club, the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. Startline is on Facebook and Instagram, so please give the pages a follow and keep up to date with the latest episodes and see some extra content. And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

    28 min

  5. May 21

    Startline Ep 43 - Fraser Heginson: Just Loves Bikes

    In this episode of Startline, we meet Fraser Heginson - a Manx-based rider whose love of bikes runs through just about every part of his life. From growing up around the TT paddock and watching his heroes on the Mountain Course, to racing CB500s, Aprilias, classics, and even having the odd go as a sidecar passenger, Fraser’s story is full of humour, honesty and genuine passion for the sport. Now he’s preparing for his first road race at the Pre-TT Classic on the Billown Course - taking on the challenge on a Honda NC30 that, by his own admission, may not be ideally suited to someone who’s six foot three. We talk about grassroots racing on the Isle of Man, the realities of getting parts, bikes and people ready from an Island base, the family garage full of motorcycles, and why, despite the cost, the effort and the nerves, Fraser simply loves everything about bikes. This is a warm, funny and very relatable conversation with a rider taking his next big step on the road racing journey. You can find Fraser on Facebook here. The Pre-TT is on from Friday 22 until Sunday 24 May 2026, and you can up to date with live commentary on Manx Radio AM1368 and vis the Manx Radio Motorsport page. The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club, the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. Startline is on Facebook and Instagram, so please give the pages a follow and keep up to date with the latest episodes and see some extra content. And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

    31 min

  6. May 14

    Startline Ep 42 -Billown Bound: Pre-TT newcomers and returners gear up

    In today's episode we are talking again about the 2026 Pre-TT Classic Road races. We speak to some riders taking it on the Billown Course for the first time, while others are back for another go. Liam Wood, Ben Grainger, Lee Stanaway and George Anderson talk us through their newcomer prep, while Wayne Avis and Adam Randells share what it’s like to return to the event. The Pre-TT is on from Friday 22 until Sunday 24 May and you can up to date with live commentary on Manx Radio AM1368 and vis the Manx Radio Motorsport page. The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club, the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. Startline is on Facebook and Instagram, so please give the pages a follow and keep up to date with the latest episodes and see some extra content. And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

    58 min

  7. May 9

    Startline Ep 41 - Pre-TT Newcomers: Ste Sewell and Liam Taylor

    In this episode of Startline, we turn our attention to the Billown Course and the Pre-TT Classic Road Races, taking place on the Isle of Man on 22nd, 23rd and 24th May. Organised by the Southern 100 Club, the Pre-TT has become one of the standout fixtures in the Classic racing calendar - a proper “must-do” meeting that regularly attracts well over 250 entries across its nine-race programme. Among this year’s newcomers are Ste Sewell and Liam Taylor. Ste is already no stranger to racing on the Isle of Man, having made his Classic TT debut in 2025. Liam, meanwhile, has strong Manx connections through his mum, who lives on the Island, but this will be his first time racing here. We chat about how their preparations are going, what has drawn them to the Pre-TT, the challenge of learning the 4.25 mile course, and what they hope to take from their first Classic road race experience at Billown. You can find Ste on Instagram here. And here are the Link's to Liam's Facebook page and Instagram here. The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club, the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. Startline is on Facebook and Instagram, so please give the pages a follow and keep up to date with the latest episodes and see some extra content. And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

    27 min

  8. May 7

    Startline Ep 40 - Charlie Hopkins: From Yorkshire brews to Mountain Course views

    In this episode of Startline we are with Charlie Hopkins - a Yorkshireman with a love of tea, a sharp eye for an auction bargain, and a growing passion for racing on the Isle of Man. Charlie’s journey has taken him from casual biking and pit bikes to the challenge of the Manx Grand Prix in 2025, where ambition, preparation and belief all met on the Mountain Course. He talks honestly about what it took to get there, from the nerves and mental focus to the family reactions, the whirlwind of race week, and the support that comes from being part of the road racing community. And, along the way, there’s the small matter of a John McGuinness picture won at auction for a fraction of what it was worth proof that sometimes Charlie’s timing is just as good off the bike as on it. You can follow Charlie on Facebook here and Instagram here . The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club, the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. Startline is on Facebook and Instagram, so please give the pages a follow and keep up to date with the latest episodes and see some extra content. And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

    29 min
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About

Startline is a podcast about all things road racing.  Radio TT and Manx Grand Prix presenter Beth Espey talks to riders, teams and organisers of events both on the Isle of Man and further afield to find out what it really takes to earn a spot on the grid. If you would like to get involved, email beth@startline.im

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