Startline - Road Racing podcast

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

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.

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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

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

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

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