Show Notes
What an episode – and this is only the beginning! This week on Racing Back, Nick Harris and Julian Ryder are joined by one of the true legends of Grand Prix motorcycle racing – Freddie Spencer. In the first of three special episodes, Freddie takes Nick and Jules back into one of the most extraordinary periods in motorcycle racing history. This is the story of the bikes, the battles and what it really took to become a World Champion. Freddie recalls his legendary battles with Kenny Roberts, but this fascinating conversation goes far deeper than the rivalry between two extraordinary riders. He reveals the remarkable level of engineering and motorcycle development taking place behind the scenes as Honda and the other factories pushed the boundaries of what was possible with a 500cc Grand Prix machine. The technology was evolving at an incredible pace – and it was down to riders such as Freddie to somehow harness it. Freddie discusses the determination, physical demands and sheer grit required to compete at the very highest level, offering a rare first-hand perspective on an era that produced some of the greatest racing the sport has ever witnessed. From Honda and the machinery to Kenny Roberts, World Championships and the mentality of a winner, this is Freddie Spencer telling the story from the inside. And there is much, much more to come. Episode 62 is Part One of a three-part Racing Back special with Freddie Spencer, with Parts Two and Three continuing the conversation over the coming weeks. • Freddie Spencer's journey to becoming World Champion • Racing the extraordinary 500cc Grand Prix machines • His legendary battles with Kenny Roberts • Honda and the engineering behind the motorcycles • The relentless development race between the factories • The physical and mental demands of the era • First-hand stories from one of Grand Prix racing's greatest periods
This is just Part One. Freddie Spencer returns for two more episodes, as Nick and Jules continue this remarkable conversation and delve even deeper into the career and experiences of one of motorcycle racing's greatest World Champions. If you're enjoying Racing Back, you can support the show by joining The Racing Back Paddock on YouTube for £3.99 per month. Members receive early access to episodes, loyalty badges, member shoutouts and more exclusive perks coming in the future.
Racing Back is the MotoGP podcast hosted by Nick Harris and Julian Ryder, featuring World Champions, legendary riders, engineers, journalists and paddock insiders sharing incredible stories and first-hand insights from MotoGP, 500cc Grand Prix racing and motorcycle racing history.
More from Racing Back
This week on Racing Back, Nick Harris and Julian Ryder are joined once again by 1987 500cc World Champion Wayne Gardner for a very special episode celebrating one of the greatest motorcycle racing circuits in the world. As MotoGP prepares to say farewell to Phillip Island, who better to join Nick and Jules than the man who won the inaugural Australian Grand Prix at the circuit in 1989? With its breathtaking coastal setting, sweeping high-speed corners and decades of extraordinary racing, Phillip Island has become one of the most iconic venues in Grand Prix motorcycle racing history. For riders, teams and fans alike, it has always been somewhere special. And for Wayne Gardner, it holds a particularly important place in his remarkable career. Nick, Jules and Wayne reflect on the circuit's extraordinary history, and the unique challenges of racing at one of the fastest and most demanding tracks in the world. From the spectacular 500cc era to modern MotoGP, Phillip Island has given us some truly remarkable moments. But with the Australian Grand Prix moving to Adelaide in 2027, the time has come to say goodbye to a circuit that many consider simply irreplaceable. Can any other racetrack ever take its place? A nostalgic and very special episode of Racing Back.
Racing Back Episode 71 – Kevin Schwantz: The Legend of Number 34 What a guest we have for you this week! Nick Harris and Julian Ryder are joined by one of the greatest names in Grand Prix motorcycle racing – 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz. The legendary number 34, Kevin became one of the most exciting and popular riders of the late 1980s and early 1990s, thrilling fans around the world with his spectacular riding style and extraordinary commitment. His battles with Wayne Rainey became the stuff of Grand Prix legend, while his relationship with Suzuki produced some of the most memorable moments in 500cc racing history. And in 1993, after years of battling at the very highest level, Kevin finally secured the 500cc World Championship. This week, Kevin joins Nick and Jules to revisit that incredible period of motorcycle racing, discussing the riders, motorcycles, rivalries and experiences that shaped his remarkable career. From the fearsome 500cc two-strokes to the characters and personalities of the paddock, there is no shortage of memories to explore. And with Nick and Jules having followed so much of Kevin's career firsthand, this promises to be a very special conversation. Kevin Schwantz. Number 34. A true Grand Prix legend. Another Racing Back episode not to be missed! Kevin Schwantz's extraordinary Grand Prix career
This week on Racing Back, Andrea Coleman returns to the paddock for the second part of her fascinating conversation with Nick Harris and Julian Ryder. In Part 1, Andrea introduced us to the extraordinary work of Two Wheels for Life, the official charity of MotoGP and the FIM, and how the motorcycle racing community helps support healthcare programmes across Africa. This time, Nick and Jules delve deeper into Andrea's own story. Where did her journey into charity work begin? What motivated her to get involved in the first place? And how did those early experiences eventually develop into a mission that would bring together the worlds of motorcycles, healthcare and Grand Prix racing? Andrea talks about her beginnings, the reasons behind her determination to make a difference and the journey that ultimately led to the work being done today through Two Wheels for Life. It's a fascinating conversation about the person behind the organisation – and the passion and purpose that can turn an idea into something capable of changing lives. After discovering what Two Wheels for Life does in Part 1, this time we discover much more about why Andrea does it. Another very special episode of Racing Back.
This week on Racing Back, Nick Harris and Julian Ryder are joined by the fantastic Andrea Coleman, co-founder and CEO of Two Wheels for Life, the official charity of MotoGP and the FIM. And this is a rather different – and very special – motorcycle story. For more than three decades, Andrea has been helping harness the extraordinary passion and generosity of the motorcycle racing community to support healthcare programmes in Africa. Through unique MotoGP events, auctions, memorabilia and incredible fan experiences, Two Wheels for Life raises money to support transport systems that enable healthcare workers to reach some of the most remote communities. At the centre of it all is something wonderfully simple: Motorcycles can save lives. Andrea takes Nick and Jules through the origins of the organisation, its extraordinary relationship with MotoGP, the support it receives from riders, teams and fans, and how the money raised by the motorcycle community is turned into practical help on the ground. It's a fascinating story about what can happen when a sport and its community come together with a shared purpose. And it's a reminder that the impact of motorcycle racing can extend a very long way beyond the chequered flag. Another very special episode of Racing Back. Find Out More Find out more about Two Wheels for Life, its work, MotoGP experiences, auctions and how you can get involved through the charity's website. Motorcycles save lives.
Stu Shenton is back! This week Nick Harris and Julian Ryder are joined once again by legendary Grand Prix mechanic and crew chief Stu Shenton for another fascinating journey through a lifetime spent at the very heart of motorcycle racing. Stu first joined us in Episode 59, but with a career stretching back to the 1970s and encompassing World Championship success with Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki, there were simply far too many stories to fit into one visit. So we've invited him back! From Kork Ballington and Freddie Spencer to Wayne Gardner, Kevin Schwantz, Anthony Gobert, John Hopkins and Loris Capirossi, Stu worked alongside some extraordinary riders during an extraordinary period in Grand Prix racing. This time Nick and Jules once again tap into Stu's remarkable memory as he shares more stories about the riders, motorcycles, engineers, teams and characters he encountered along the way. It's a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of Grand Prix racing from someone who wasn't merely watching history unfold – he was part of it. If you enjoyed Stu's first Racing Back appearance, this is another episode you won't want to miss. • Stu Shenton returns to Racing Back • More stories from his remarkable Grand Prix career • Working with some of motorcycle racing's greatest riders • Life with Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki • The relationship between rider, mechanic and machine