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. 6d ago

    Startline Ep 63 - That’s Going to Be Me Dad: Callum Hirst’s Manx Grand Prix Dream

    For Callum Hirst, racing the Mountain Course has been the dream for almost 20 years. He was just nine years old when his dad brought him to the Isle of Man for the Centenary TT in 2007. Standing at the top of Bray Hill and watching the bikes come past, Callum turned to his dad and told him that one day it would be him. Now, that dream is beginning to feel much closer. After years in motocross, Callum moved into road racing only last year, but has already made a huge impression. His sights are now firmly set on MGP 2027.  Beth catches up with Callum to talk about where that ambition began, his rapid progression on short circuits, the physical and mental preparation he believes the Mountain Course demands, and the enormous amount of work happening behind the scenes to give himself the best possible chance of reaching the Startline. There’s plenty of confidence, plenty of laughs and a very clear sense that, for Callum, this is about far more than simply entering a motorcycle race. You can follow Callum 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, you can find some great photos on there.    And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

  2. Sep 24

    Startline Ep 62 - From the Canadian Army to the Mountain Course: Dallas Reynolds

    Canadian racer Dallas Reynolds has taken rather an unusual route towards the roads. After 13 years in the Canadian Army, including deployments overseas, Dallas turned his attention increasingly towards racing, progressing from club competition at home, through the Canadian national series and ultimately onto the Irish roads. Now, the Isle of Man is firmly in his sights. In this episode of Startline, Dallas talks about where his fascination with the TT and Manx Grand Prix first began, the influence his military career has had on the way he approaches racing, and what he has learned from two seasons competing on the roads. Having already experienced the MGP from inside the paddock as part of another rider’s team, Dallas is now preparing to submit his expression of interest for 2027 and hoping his next visit to the Island might finally be as a newcomer. We also talk about learning the Mountain Course, dealing with setbacks, the importance of preparation and why, for Dallas, the answer is simply to keep putting the work in. You can follow Dallas on Instagram here and 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, you can find some great photos on there.    And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

  3. Sep 17

    Startline Ep 61 - Martin Clare & Amanda Mason: Life's too short, just say yes.

    For some people, racing is something they’ve been doing all their lives. For Martin Clare and Amanda Mason, the journey has been a little less straightforward. In this episode of Startline, we catch up with the pair in the Manx Grand Prix paddock to talk about how they found their way into racing, their love of the roads, a new sidecar partnership that is very much still a work in progress and why sometimes you just have to take the opportunity and see where it leads. There are plenty of laughs along the way, but also a powerful reminder that life is there to be lived. And bacon is not to be burnt. And after this episode - Martin and Amanda did become the last ever Tonfanau Sidecar Champions! You can find their page - LCM Racing on Facebook or you can get in touch with Martin and Amanda directly. 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, you can find some great photos on there.    And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

  4. Sep 10

    Startline Ep 60 - Ben Wilkinson: From Birmingham to Bray Hill, the MGP dream

    Ben Wilkinson has one goal firmly in his sights: racing at the Manx Grand Prix. After beginning on motocross bikes at the age of 11, Ben moved into circuit racing before turning his attention to the roads. But his journey suffered a painful setback following this year’s Southern 100, when a low-speed road-bike accident left his shoulder broken in four places and his arm out of its socket for four days. In this episode of the Startline Road Racing Podcast, Ben talks candidly about the physical and mental challenge of recovery, the family and friends helping to rebuild him, and why the accident hasn’t diminished his determination to race again - although it does mean the garden has been neglected... We also hear why his first Manx Grand Prix application was unsuccessful, what he needs to do next and why, however long it takes, Ben won’t stop until he reaches the startline. We're also joined by Ben's friend Kean, who's quickly proved he's got what it takes to be a crucial part of the team. And in this episode, we also catch up with former guest Shane Doran who did his first MGP in 2026. You can follow Ben's Peach Racing page 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, you can find some great photos on there.  And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

  5. Sep 3

    Startline Ep 59 - How was it for you? MGP 2026 newcomers and a sidecar experience

    In this episode, we catch up with previous Startliners Illiam Quayle, Markus Karlsson, Andy Herd and Andrew Coulter to find out how Manx Grand Prix 2026 lived up to the dream. We hear how they expected it to be, what was the reality was like, their advice for anyone wanting to be a newcomer in 2027 and most importantly - whether they want to do it again... You can find Illiam Quayle Facebook and Instagram here Markus Karlsson on Facebook here and Instagram here, Andy Herd on Facebook here and Instagram here. And Andrew Coulter on Facebook here and Instagram here. ** Also in this episode, hear how Beth got on being a sidecar passenger for the very first time there may one tiny swear word, so sorry about that! 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, you can find some great photos on there.  And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

  6. Aug 27

    Startline Ep 58 - Laurent Hoffmann: The comeback

    Belgian racer Laurent Hoffman has been back on the Isle of Man Mountain Course after a 12-year gap, and the comeback story is even more dramatic than it sounds. After a crash at TT 2014 left him in a wheelchair and doctors telling him he’d likely never ride again, he returned to the Island with a rebuilt team, years of preparation, and some clear goals. Laurent shares the inside story of growing up in the paddock, discovering his talent in go-karting, and funding a racing career almost entirely out of his own pocket. He opens up about the pressure of expectation, why he chose to keep his return quiet, and what it really takes to get to the Manx Grand Prix when travel, money, experience, and the right people all have to line up at once. Laurent also shares a surprisingly candid look at life off the bike, from avoiding social media pressure to passing the racing bug to his son without forcing it. With his wife and son alongside him in the paddock this year, this is as much a story about resilience, patience, and generational passion, as it is about speed. You can find Laurent 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, you can find some great photos on there.  And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

  7. Aug 20

    Startline Ep 57 - Richard 'Eggy' Eglin: The nearly man

    In this episode, Beth chats to motorcycle racer Richard 'Eggy' Eglin about more than 30 years of racing, from his first time at Mallory Park in 1991 to competing at the Southern 100 and Ulster Grand Prix. Richard talks openly about his recent S100 victory, the challenges and costs of racing, the importance of the people who support him, and why the racing community means so much to him. He also shares his experiences with mental health and explains how motorcycle racing has given him an outlet, a focus and a reason to keep moving forward. An honest and inspiring conversation about racing, resilience, friendship, support and the determination to keep chasing your goals. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this podcast, you can find support at TORQ, a specialised mental health and well being support service on the Isle of Man, created by the Dan Kneen Charitable Fund in partnership with Rock2Recovery. 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, you can find some great photos on there.  And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

  8. Aug 13

    Startline Ep 56 - The Manx Grand Prix 2026 preview: John McBride and Ned Bowers

    The waiting is almost over. The paddock is beginning to fill, the tents are going up and, after a year of planning, the 2026 Manx Grand Prix is suddenly very real. In this episode of Startline, we’re at the TT Grandstand with Manx Motor Cycle Club Chairman John McBride and Secretary and Treasurer Ned Bowers for a final look ahead before the action gets under way. We talk about an exciting international crop of newcomers, the riders who could be challenging at the front, the huge commitment - and financial sacrifice - it takes simply to make it to the start line, and the one remaining place in the prestigious Tommy Club. John and Ned also take us behind the scenes of an event powered by volunteers, talk about the vital need for marshals and reflect on what makes the MGP so special: more than a century of history, tradition and stories and a new generation of riders hoping to write their own. For the organisers, twelve months of preparation are almost over. Now comes what Ned describes perfectly as “a year in a week.” MGP 2026 is almost 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, you can find some great photos on there.  And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im

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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

Information

  • Creator
    Beth Espey
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Startline - Road Racing podcast