Startline Ep 68 - It was never the plan….until it became everything: Kristýna Jakesch
Startline with Beth Espey
Thursday, 5 November 2026 - 29 minutes
Sometimes the best journeys in motorsport are the ones you never planned.
For Czech road racing rider Kristýna Jakesch, what began almost by coincidence has developed into a passion that has become a huge part of her life. Having started racing around nine years ago, Kristýna has worked her way through the challenges of learning the sport, finding opportunities to develop and establishing herself in an increasingly competitive racing environment.
Based in Brno, home to the famous Masaryk Circuit, Kristýna balances her racing ambitions with a demanding career in cyber security management. Funding much of her own racing journey, she has built her experience through determination, hard work and the support of some fantastic people along the way.
Now, a new and exciting chapter is on the horizon. Having fallen in love with the TT paddock and the incredible community surrounding the Isle of Man races, Kristýna is setting her sights on the Manx Grand Prix.
We chat about her unconventional introduction to motorcycle racing, the challenges of being a female rider, the importance of the people around her and why she believes that preparation, patience and enjoying the journey are just as important as the results.
It's a story of unexpected opportunities, determination and daring to imagine something that once seemed completely out of reach.
If you would like to follow Kristýna's progress, you can find her 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. Startline is on Facebook and Instagram, so please give the pages a follow and keep up to date with the latest episodes and see some extra content, you can find some great photos on there.
And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im
