Startline - Road Racing podcast

In this episode of Startline, brought to you by the Manx Motor Cycle Club, we hear another inspiring story of a racing dream becoming reality.

Sidecar passenger Matthew Rostron grew up surrounded by the sport, inspired by his grandad who raced sidecars at the TT.

Through determination, hard work, and the support of those around him, Matthew has carved out his own place in road racing and will be back on the Mountain Course again this year.

And as well as competing in the sidecar class at the TT, he will take on the Classic TT on two wheels, his first solo venture around the Mountain Course.

Matthew is on Facebook and Instagram, you can also follow his solo progress with the Green Ant Racing Team and his sidecar racing with Real Road Racing.

In this episode, we also head to Jurby to meet Gary Partridge, the man behind Happy Dog Image Solutions, a business that is a very familiar name in racing both on the Isle of Man and further afield.

Known for producing the official Manx Grand Prix merchandise, Gary explains the story behind the Happy Dog name and introduces the team...now including a cat...who help keep the operation running.

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 if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email me - it's [email protected]

In this episode, Beth chats with TT rider Jack Fowler about his road racing journey so far.

Since starting out at the Manx Grand Prix in 2018, Jack has steadily built his experience on the Mountain Course, moving to the TT a couple of years ago.

And all this while balancing racing with family life and a full-time role in motorcycle product development.

In this conversation, Jack shares what it’s really like to prepare for the TT, from the mental focus required at high speed, to the challenges of race week, sponsorship, and life beyond the paddock.

He also reflects on the importance of enjoying the experience, the support behind every rider, and his personal goals for the season ahead.

Oh and we also talk air frying...

You can follow Jack on social media - his Facebook page is here, he's also on Instagram and if you'd like to get in touch with him, you can email [email protected]

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 if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email me - it's [email protected]

Today we explore the world of sidecar racing on the Isle of Man with two of the sport’s standout crews.

TT winner Tim Reeves is joined by his new passenger, Melanie Farnier.They open up about forming a fresh partnership, the trust it demands, and the relentless physical and mental pressures of competing at the highest level.

Alongside them, Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clément share their own journey through one of road racing’s most demanding disciplines. From securing vital sponsorship and managing the brutal demands of the sport, to the tight-knit community that keeps competitors coming back year after year.

For anyone thinking about sidecar racing, Tim and Todd say Steve's Sidecar Place is a great place to start and you can find a link here.

Also In this episode we catch up with the fastest German ever around the Mountain Course, David Datzer, who returns to fitness for 2026 after injury forced him out last season. He tells us what his dream is and how it will be marked with a new tattoo when it happens.

You can follow David on Facebook here and Instagram here.  

Finally we meet some of the newcomers taking on the 2026 Manx Grand Prix, fresh from their very first Newcomers’ Weekend here on the Island.

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 if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email me - it's [email protected]

In this episode, Beth catches up with Mike Bibby, team owner of MBR Motorsports and one his riders Roger Wibberley.

They take us inside the world of road racing - from the early days of turning up with a van and a few mates, to the high-pressure, highly coordinated team effort the sport demands today.

Mike, a former racer himself, knows more than anyone that it takes a team to get to any start line.

Mike and Rodger talk honestly about the emotional rollercoaster of racing, the growing importance of sponsorship and social media, and why preparation isn’t just helpful - it’s everything.

You can find MBR Motorsports on Facebook here and Rodger's page is 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 if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email me - it's [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with Illiam Quayle, one of the Island’s most exciting young racing talents, as he talks openly about his journey into the sport and his preparations for being a newcomer at this year’s Manx Grand Prix.

Illiam reflects on what it’s really like growing up in a racing family and the unique pressures that come with being the son of a road racing legend. He shares his own experiences on the track, the importance of having the right team around him, and how he balances an all-consuming passion for racing with the everyday realities of life.

We also explore the physical and mental preparation required to compete at this level, how social media now plays a key role in building a racing career, and what drives Illiam to keep pushing forward in such a demanding sport.

It’s an honest and thoughtful conversation with a young rider very much carving his own path and of course we hear about the fact he will make his Mountain Course debut this year with Team ILR.

You can follow Illiam on Facebook and Instagram.

There's also some very exciting news: The Startline podcast is now in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club, the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix.

When it first started back in October 2025, the aim for Startline was to give road racers aiming to come to the Isle of Man a space to tell their story and now working with the MMC, we will be able to explore even more of that journey and I'm so grateful for their support.

Startline is on Facebook and Instagram, so please give the pages a follow and keep up to date with the latest episodes.

And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email me - it's [email protected]