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 that.

They talk openly with Beth about what it’s like when your child chooses road racing, the nerves that never quite go away, the early mornings, the overflowing trophy cabinets and the unwavering support it takes to help someone else chase a dream.

Honest, funny, and relatable, this episode is a reminder that while riders take to the course alone, they never get there on their own.

You can listen back to the previous JTAD podcasts with Grant here and with Marcus here, and they both also took part in the first ever Journey to a Dream Live from the Queen's.

It would great if you could follow the riders on social media - your support makes such a difference. Grant is on Facebook and Instagram and you can find Marcus on Facebook and Instagram too. You can find details about their supporters clubs here too.

And if you'd like to get in touch with Beth, you can email bethespey@manxradio.com

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.

Dave takes us inside his MGP racing career, the decision to step away from competing, and what inspired him to give back to the sport that’s shaped so much of his life.

And if you’ve ever sat there wondering, “Could I actually do this?” - Dave has some honest, practical advice that might just give you the push you need.

Journey to a Dream is supported by the Andreas Racing Association and you can visit their website here and also the Manx Motorcycle Club.

And if you've enjoyed this podcast, you might like Startline - you can check that out here.

To get in touch with Beth, you can email bethespey@manxradio.com

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 night.

It was all to raise money for Tracey's Pictures who support newcomers every year and you can watch the progamme on Manx Radio's YouTube channel here.

Journey to a Dream is brought to you by the Andreas Racing Association and you can visit their website here and also the Manx Motorcycle Club.

And if you've enjoyed this podcast, you might like Startline - you can check that out here.

To get in touch with Beth, you can email bethespey@manxradio.com

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 life off the track looks a little different. When he’s not clocking up miles on the Mountain Course, he’s behind the wheel of a coach… or raiding the biscuit cupboard.

And racing might just be in the blood - his grandad got a racing licence not so long ago

We talk to Harley about racing dreams, sugar fixes, and what it really takes to make your mark on the Manx Grand Prix.

You can follow Harley's racing page on Facebook and Instagram

To get in touch with Beth, you can email bethespey@manxradio.com

Journey to a Dream is supported by the Andreas Racing Association and you can visit their website here and also the Manx Motorcycle Club.

And if you've enjoyed this podcast, you might like Startline - you can check that out here.

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 - even riding a lap with a missing foot peg!

It’s been a dream year for William: competing on the Island in perfect Manx weather, and securing podiums at both the Cookstown 100 and Armoy. He also finished runner-up in the Oliver’s Mount Lightweight 400cc Championship, and raced a season in British Superbikes.

He’s also a big personality online, with over 1,300 YouTube subscribers, and recently ran 10km in quite the outfit to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Follow William on Facebook here, Instagram here and his YouTube channel is here

You can follow Cowton Racing on their Instagram page here.

Journey to a Dream is supported by the Andreas Racing Association and you can visit their website here and we're also grateful to the Manx Motorcycle Club.

You can get in touch with Beth by emailing bethespey@manxadio.com

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 delivered an incredible set of results and some seriously impressive lap times.

With perfect weather across race week, Eddy completed all four races, and clocked the fastest Sulby speed trap times in both the Supertwin and Junior races, finishing as top newcomer in every class.

It’s been a remarkable rise - and this is just the beginning.

You can follow Eddy on Facebook here and Instagram here.

Journey to a Dream is supported by the Andreas Racing Association and you can visit their website here and we're also grateful to the Manx Motorcycle Club.

You can get in touch with Beth by emailing bethespey@manxadio.com

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 finish in the Junior race and 13th in the Senior, lapping at over 114mph and earning the title of second-best newcomer that year.

Fast forward to 2025, and Toby really stepped things up - finishing all four races and taking two podiums, with 2nd places in both the Supertwin and Junior races for Cowton Racing.

He also grabbed strong results in the Supersport and Senior races, clocking an incredible 119.123mph lap.

With that kind of progress, Toby’s journey is only just starting and for 2026, he’ll be among the favourites for MGP success.

You can follow Cowton Racing on their Instagram page here.

Journey to a Dream is supported by the Andreas Racing Association and you can visit their website here and we're also grateful to the Manx Motorcycle Club.

You can get in touch with Beth by emailing bethespey@manxadio.com

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 Calum wasn’t deterred.

Fast forward to 2025, and the story couldn’t have been more different.

With sunshine and smooth running all week, Calum impressed in both the Supertwin and Junior races, securing two 17th-place finishes and lapping at over 109 miles an hour.

He also took on the Classic TT aboard a VFR Honda, finishing 16th overall and 6th in the Ultra Lightweight class.

Away from the Island, Calum’s enjoyed strong performances in the Scottish Championships this year, further cementing his reputation as one to watch.

Here we talk about Calum’s racing journey so far, his hopes for the future and his connection to the Hedzup Youth Development Programme - co-founded by his dad - and how Hedzup Racing continues to inspire and support the next generation of riders.

You can follow Calum on Facebook here and Instagram here.

Journey to a Dream is supported by the Andreas Racing Association and the Manx Motorcycle Club which runs the Manx Grand Prix.

You can get in touch with Beth by emailing bethespey@manxradio.com