Podcast Episode with Torsten Robbens

Phil Read endorses Torsten at Spa in 2017. Image: Saroléa Motorcycles

Oudenaarde is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of East Flanders. For centuries it was known for its tapestry production, and in modern times the Tour of Flanders bicycle road race ends there after several laps up the mighty Koppenberg climb. The youngest team manager to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans – Torsten Robbens – also lives there, and is our second European podcast guest.

Robbens has been riding motorcycles with his twin brother Bjorn since they were 4 years old, planting a mechanical seed of curiosity in them both. After 10 years in F1 and Le Mans endurance racing, Torsten acquired the storied Saroléa motorcycle brand with Bjorn and developed a modern electric bike to race at the Isle of Man TT.

Torsten regales us with his career arc, from riding a 50cc moped to England for a lowly apprenticeship to working with Hollywood A-listers on motorcycle stunt bikes, with his impressive Le Mans accomplishments in between. We were jazzed to talk to a fellow Belgian!