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Week ending 17 September 2000

Paul Free Rider Profile Photo by psfoto Photo by Mpix

Rider: Paul Free Birth Date: 18 May 1971 Age: 29 Birth Place: Cohuna, Victoria Australia Siblings: Two Brothers, Dean and Brad Currently Lives: Boronia, Victoria Australia First Ride: 1978, Honda Z50 First Race: 1991, Winton Raceway, RGV250, 250 Production Class Trade: Heavy Vehicle Mechanic Occupation: Motorcycle Racer and Motorcycle Mechanic Team: Ansett Air Freight Suzuki Race Bike: Suzuki GSXR750 Superbike Race History: 1991 15th In first Australian Championship Race at Eastern Creek, 250 Production 1992   Missed 6 months due to injury 1993 1st Victorian State Championship, 250 Production 1994 1st Victorian State Championship, 250 Production 1995 11th Australian National Championship, 600 Supersport   3rd Victorian State Championship, 600 Supersport 1996 12th Australian National Championship, 600 Supersport 1997 2nd Australian National Championship, 600 Supersport   2nd Australian Grand Prix 600 Support Race 1998 8th Australian National Championship, Superbike   5th Australian National Championship, 600 Supersport   2nd Australian 6 Hour Endurance Race   1st Australian World Superbike 600 Support Race 1999 7th Australian National Championship, Superbike   5th Australian National Championship, 600 Supersport 2000 3rd Australian National Championship, Superbike To Date: Round One (race 1: 4th, race 2: dnf) Round Two (race 1: 2nd, race 2: 3rd)

Paul Free is the type of racer that Australian fans should get to know. Paul is approachable and easy to talk to, which is not a great departure from other Australian national level motorcycle racers. The difference is the calm, relaxed and self-assured approach that Paul displays at the racetrack. When asked about his relaxed appearance at the track, Paul explained about a change in training focus during the off-season. "I have taken a different approach on my training this year. I have been riding my pushbike a lot and working on my breathing and heart rate. I'm taking a more laid-back approach, reducing mental and physical stress. I could feel the difference at the first round this year." The Australian national championship series is known for producing a number of internationally competitive riders. Paul is one of only two riders left riding FIM spec, Factory Superbikes, in the 2000 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship. This puts Paul in the unique position of possessing current saddle time on the hyper fast Superbikes. With U.S., British and international teams turning to the Australian championships to provide winning riders for their teams, it will be no surprise if Paul joins the ranks of his fellow countrymen overseas. When asked why top-level riders in Australia are so competitive abroad, Paul had this to say. "There are so many riders on the pace at one time. You have to come up to their level if you want to have fun and get the results. In the beginning, Australian riders have to do everything on their own. This has helped to be very adaptive and the variance in tracks helps with learning new tracks."

Does Paul want to join the fray overseas? "Yes! Since I started racing I knew this was for me. My goal is to be world champion and I have to get over there soon." What about your factory ride with Team Ansett Air Freight Suzuki? "It's great and Phil's a bloody brilliant tuner but the national series has lost some prestige since 1991. It's not what it was. I want to keep racing and it just makes sense to go overseas where you can earn a living racing." Currently Paul lies third in the 2000 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship. This after a brilliant ride at Winton Motor Raceway, posting a 2nd and 3rd placing. Come out and meet this exciting rider when the championship comes to a racetrack near you. Note: 18 May 2000 It was our hope at Superbike.com.au to introduce you to top level Australian riders, while they are still racing at racetracks close to home. Close enough for you to get out and meet these potential world champions. In the process of developing our site, the rider profiles were delayed and now we may be losing Paul to an international team. The latest news is that Paul will be hopping on a plane bound for Milan, Italy on 19 May 2000. Once in Milan, Paul will travel to Misano for a test next Tuesday with a Suzuki backed Italian 600 Supersport team. We wish Paul the best of luck with his test, but we will miss his exciting riding here in Australia. If you would like to send Paul an email to wish him luck, send it to info@superbike.com.au and we will forward it to him.

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