Startline - Road Racing podcast

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. [https://www.facebook.com/share/17pmcVgfPq/?mibextid=wwXIfr] 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. [https://motorsport.manxradio.com/] The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club [https://www.facebook.com/manxmotorcycleclub/], the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. [https://manxgrandprix.co.uk/] Startline is on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/people/Startline-Road-Racing-Podcast/100067562006661/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/startline_podcast?igsh=aHVhOWI1emR6eXQx], 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 [beth@startline.im]

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 [https://southern100.com/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 [https://www.facebook.com/liam.wood.716195], Ben Grainger [https://www.facebook.com/ben.grainger.710/], Lee Stanaway [https://www.facebook.com/leestanawayracing/]and George Anderson  [https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeAndersonRacing/]talk us through their newcomer prep, while Wayne Avis [https://www.facebook.com/p/Wayne-Avis-Racing-20-61552755304445/] and Adam Randells  [https://www.facebook.com/share/1aMHvHqAFR/?mibextid=wwXIfr]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. [https://motorsport.manxradio.com/] The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club [https://www.facebook.com/manxmotorcycleclub/], the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. [https://manxgrandprix.co.uk/] Startline is on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/people/Startline-Road-Racing-Podcast/100067562006661/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/startline_podcast?igsh=aHVhOWI1emR6eXQx], 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 [beth@startline.im]

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. [https://www.instagram.com/srsroadracing?igsh=ODBoejR6bzhicm5u] And here are the Link's to Liam's Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/share/18yzLdgeas/?mibextid=wwXIfr] and Instagram here. [https://www.instagram.com/reaper_racing_313?igsh=OXNjeXQ1cTlncTFi] The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club [https://www.facebook.com/manxmotorcycleclub/], the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. [https://manxgrandprix.co.uk/] Startline is on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/people/Startline-Road-Racing-Podcast/100067562006661/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/startline_podcast?igsh=aHVhOWI1emR6eXQx], 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 [beth@startline.im]

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 [https://www.facebook.com/share/1KkvCVXt9S/?mibextid=wwXIfr] and Instagram here . [https://www.instagram.com/hoppo1991?igsh=MTJiajlndjBveDdzNA==] The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club [https://www.facebook.com/manxmotorcycleclub/], the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. [https://manxgrandprix.co.uk/] Startline is on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/people/Startline-Road-Racing-Podcast/100067562006661/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/startline_podcast?igsh=aHVhOWI1emR6eXQx], 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 [beth@startline.im]

Startline Ep 39 - Lorenz Rothärmel: From Germany to Glencrutchery Road

In this episode of Startline, we meet Lorenz Rothärmel, a rider whose road racing dream has brought him from Germany to the Isle of Man and to one of the biggest challenges in the sport - the Manx Grand Prix 2026. Lorenz shares how his passion for road racing first began, what drew him to the Mountain Course, and how he is preparing himself for the demands of racing on Manx public roads. We talk bike set-up, physical fitness, mental calmness, and why trust in the machine matters so much when every section of the course asks something different of rider and bike. There is also advice from experienced voices, including racing legend John McGuinness, and a real sense of the family support and personal commitment behind Lorenz’s journey - summed up perfectly by the fact that, for now, his main sponsors are himself and his Dad. Oh and there's a bit of wedding ring drama... You can find Lorenz on Facebook here [https://www.facebook.com/lorenz.rotharmel/] and Instagram here [https://www.instagram.com/firerolo/]. And in this episode we also hear from TT sidecar champions Ryan and Callum Crowe [https://www.facebook.com/CroweRacing7/], who launched their 2026 racing season at the Victory Café on the Mountain Road, as they look ahead to another huge year on three wheels. The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club [https://www.facebook.com/manxmotorcycleclub/], the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. [https://manxgrandprix.co.uk/] Startline is on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/people/Startline-Road-Racing-Podcast/100067562006661/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/startline_podcast?igsh=aHVhOWI1emR6eXQx], 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 [beth@startline.im]