Journey to a Dream

Not every journey to a dream starts on the Mountain Course - and not every hero in the paddock wears leathers. In this episode of Journey to a Dream, the spotlight shifts to two important people behind the scenes: the biker mums. Catriona McIntosh Thomson and Jayne Simpson are known around the paddock as the mums of Grant Thomson and Marcus Simpson, but their role in road racing goes far beyond th...

In this episode, Beth is joined by Dave Bosendorfer - rider coach with the Andreas Racing Association, former Manx Grand Prix competitor, and former scrutineer. Born and raised on the Isle of Man, and with a dad who loved anything that had an engine, it was probably inevitable that Dave would end up around racing. What might surprise you, though, is that his journey didn’t start on two wheels. Dav...

For the first time, we have taken Journey to a Dream out on the road, recording an episode in front of a live audience at The Queen's pub on Douglas Promenade. Beth was joined by Manx riders, Grant Thomson , Rory Parker and Marcus Simpson. Thank you to Okells for supporting this event and to Lee and Carol Bartram for organising everything. Thank you to Hannah McHugh for the photographs on the nigh...

In this episode of Journey to a Dream, we’re catching up with a rider who’s made a huge impact in an incredibly short time - Harley Rushton. He burst onto the Manx Grand Prix scene as a newcomer in 2024 and wasted no time making his mark - taking a race win and, this year, adding a lap record to his growing list of achievements. Harley’s the kind of racer who eats, sleeps, and breathes bikes - but...

We are joined on Journey to a Dream today by William Grant, other wise known as “The Sheriff” 🤠, He is from Scarborough and is undoubtedly O2’s fastest salesman! William made his 2025 Manx Grand Prix debut with the experienced Cowton Racing team, competing in both the Junior and Supertwin races on Kawasaki machinery. He finished 30th in the Supertwin and 36th in the Junior, lapping at over 106mph...

In this episode, we’re heading to Ampthill in Bedfordshire to meet Eddy Wormald, a rider who made his Mountain Course debut in 2025, and what a debut it was. Eddy burst onto the scene at the Manx Grand Prix, quickly making his mark as the best overall newcomer of the year. Riding an R6 in the Supersport and Senior races, and an Ian Lougher Racing Paton in the Supertwin and Junior classes, he deliv...

Our guest in this episode is another rising star on the road racing scene - Toby Shann. A multiple race winner at his home circuit, Oliver’s Mount in Scarborough, Toby has also competed on many of the UK’s short circuits and taken on the legendary North West 200. He made his Mountain Course debut in 2024 at the Manx Grand Prix, where, despite tough weather conditions, he impressed with a 9th-place...

In this episode, we’re joined by Calum Pert - a talented young racer with deep roots in the Manx Grand Prix. The son of experienced MGP competitor Ian Pert, Calum made his debut in 2024 with support from, among others, the fantastic Billy Redmayne Memorial Fund. It wasn’t an easy introduction to the Mountain Course in 2024 - with weather disruptions and mechanical issues testing his resolve; but C...

In this episode we’re joined by a rider whose determination, resilience, and raw passion for road racing make him one to watch. Ryan Whitehall, from the Isle of Wight, races under the banner of WR Racing. He first caught the racing bug back in 2018 and from those early days, he made an immediate impact - cutting his teeth in the Thundersport Series before moving up to the Elite 600 class, where ea...

Today, we’re talking to one of the rising stars of road racing - Lee Hara. Lee, from Northern Ireland, is already making waves at just 19 years old. He competed in this year's Manx Grand Prix and his racing track record so far is nothing short of impressive. Back in 2023, Lee was crowned Supersport 600 USBK Cup Champion and went on to finish 13th in the Supersport Pro Class, a huge achievement for...

It’s hard to believe that in 2024, Caomhan Canny was a newcomer, setting out on his Mountain Course journey….and now, just over a year later, he’s the 2025 Senior Manx Grand Prix Winner. His path to the top hasn't been straightforward though - back in June, Caomhan’s hopes of even competing were in doubt after a huge crash at the Tandragee 100. But through sheer determination, he fought back, was...

In this episode, recorded during the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT, we take a trip around the Mountain Course with Martin Morris. With more than a decade of racing experience, Martin has established himself as a rising force on the roads - having first competed at the MGP in 2022 and moving to the TT the following year. Following a strong season this year, his focus is already shifting to 2026, w...

Today we’re joined by Don Gilbert - a rider who races in the Manx Grand Prix, Southern 100 and has his sights set on TT. Don didn’t come up through the sport the traditional way, starting a little later than some. It's also fair to say he faced some resistance at home and learnt the hard way just how tough the road can be, with setbacks that might have stopped someone else for good. But Don’s stor...

In this episode, we hear from four riders who all had the Moutain Course in their sights for 2025 - and now they have all raced the dream. So what was it like - can you ever really prepare for what the ultimate road racing experience throws at you? Ste Sewell , Blake Kelly , Lee Stanaway and Dale Brew talk us through their experiences, which include forgetting something on the start line, doing so...

In this episode, we explore what life is like on both sides of the track. Chris Moore is a highly experienced and successful Manx Grand Prix and TT rider - he won his Newcomers MGP race, and although he doesn’t live on the Isle of Man, his Manx roots mean his heart is firmly here. His wife Lorna has been by his side for almost the entirety of his racing career. She shares what it’s like to watch t...

In this episode, we meet Dale Brew, one of the six Andreas Racing Association newcomers taking on the 2025 Manx Grand Prix. A regular at Jurby and currently sitting third in the Uggly & Co Supertwin Championship, Dale has already shown great promise on the short circuits. His journey to the Manx, however, hasn’t been without setbacks - and we'll hear why it was only just a few days before qual...

In this episode, we meet Wayne Avis, a local newcomer taking on his first Manx Grand Prix. Originally from Essex but now living in Braddan, Wayne works for Isle of Man Energy and says the support from his partner Laurie and his brother-in-law (who's no stranger to the Mountain Course himself) has been a huge part of his racing journey. Wayne began racing in 2021 at Jurby with the Andreas Racing As...

In this episode, we hear about the incredible work Tracey and Juan Harrison do to support newcomers at the Manx Grand Prix and other motorcycle events. Over the years, their tireless fundraising and dedication have provided vital help for riders in their first year, raising significant amounts of money and creating opportunities for many competitors. The couple are behind Tracey’s Pictures, a high...

As we know, here on the Isle of Man, motorcycling is more than a sport, it’s part of the Island’s identity and our guests in this episode really embody that spirit. We are delighted to be joined by 'Wobbly' Bob Taylor (we'll find out where the wobbly came from) and Francesco Faraldo. Bob, a devoted TT and MGP supporter since the early 1970s, is the founder of the Leece Motorcycle Museum in Peel an...

In this episode, we’re joined by Victor Ortega Pérez from Pedreguer in Spain, one of the most dedicated international riders on the Manx Grand Prix scene. Victor made his debut on the Mountain Course back in 2019, finishing ninth in the Newcomers A race and competing in the Junior MGP. Since then, he’s returned in 2022, 2023 and will be on the start line again this year, steadily building pace and...

In this episode, we meet Anthony Stephens - better known in the racing world as Kev, and we'll find out where that nickname came from. Originally from New Zealand and now based in Australia, Kev made his Manx Grand Prix debut in 2024. But it was far from smooth sailing and once again we find out just how much mental determination plays a part in getting racers to the start line. Fresh off his seco...

In this episode, we’re catching up with one of the Isle of Man’s six local newcomers set to take on the legendary Manx Grand Prix in 2025 - Blake Kelly. A full-time fire officer and blue light driving instructor by day, Blake has been racing since 2019 and has already made his mark at events like the Pre-TT, Oliver’s Mount, the Southern 100, and Jurby. Now, with the support of the Billy Redmayne M...

As we approach Manx Grand Prix 2025, we hear from some of the people who help make it happen in this episode of Journey to a Dream. Chair of the Manx Motorcycle Club John McBride, Vice-Chair Jim Hunter and Treasurer Ned Bowers take us through how this year is looking, with 28 newcomers and a host of events planned to celebrate this motorcycling highlight. You can find out all the information on th...

Join us as we follow the journey of Ste Sewell, a dedicated racer who had a standout 2024 season, taking multiple podiums and clinching the Wirral 100 Lightweight Championship. He also secured second place in the Oliver's Mount CB500 Championship, narrowly missing the top spot. From starting out in 2018 to making his national road racing debut in 2023, Ste now faces his biggest challenge yet; the...

As we continue our focus on newcomers for Manx Grand Prix 2025, today’s guest is Craig Kenelly, a rider who’s been making waves on the roads after years of high-level short circuit racing. Since 2014, Craig has competed in BSB Superstock, Supersport, and the Ducati Cup, bringing a wealth of experience with him as he transitions to road racing. He made his road race debut at the North West 200 in 2...