Startline Ep 40 - Charlie Hopkins: From Yorkshire brews to Mountain Course views
Start Line with Beth Espey
Thursday, 7 May 2026 - 30 minutes
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 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.
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And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im
