I do like some street art.
I guess I appreciate probably the work that goes into it.
To some people, which looks maybe sometimes simple it's obviously not
always that and it's a bit like racing you know people say, well I drive the car
every day so what makes you so special and why do you need a train, why do you
need to put so much effort into it and there's obviously a lot more to it.
I loved racing from a young age, I guess it's kind of in your blood as they say.
I really enjoyed the freedom of it the power to be in control at such a young age of something.
I was completely in love
Growing up in Perth, I was always happy here. Even like a kind of young teenager
I was always like yeah you know gonna stay in Perth my whole life.
Very much attached to the city.
What I loved about coming home is obviously catching up
with with friends and family. I feel completely detached from the racing world
It's my 10th year on the road so I've kind of got used to that
The first time I got to drive a go-kart you know I was 8-9 years old
Throughout the track, keep going whatever 80 kilometres an hour
And there's no one can touch you
that freedom, control and that little bit of power, that's a cool feeling
I remember even while I was 15-16 you know those last
couple years of school I was scratching my head because I was like I'm not
really passionate about anything in particular that was a probably a switch
you know around 17, me growing up as well like you hit a bit of a maturity switch
as well and that kind of made me realise this was a realistic thing for me.
Mum and dad still get crazy nervous when I race but um that'll never change
I love two wheels but it was never a realistic option getting mum to allow me to race
on four wheels was already a big enough challenge so yeah. I got my first dirt
bike probably two years ago so it took me a long time to convince her to
allow me to do anything on two wheels
Initially when I started racing
they were both against it dad had been involved in racing you know for some of his life and
he understood how intense it is but also how kind of unrealistic as well it is
for like a little kid from Perth to make it on a world stage.
Once I kind of had that hunger to do it they were fully supportive
Motivation for me is I think purely driven by the competition it's like a
privilege to be able to compete on a world scale against the best in the world.
It's super competitive on track it's kind of every man for them self.
2012/2013 my trainer saw a documentary on the honey badger and he showed me and
he goes check this out and he goes I really think there's a real correlation.
He knew that there was a kind of a real fierce competitive side to me and I feel
2014 when I got my chance with RedBull people saw that
You know it's one of the most ruthless drivers on the track that year and I feel that's continued.
It still seems you know sometimes a bit surreal I didn't ever really think this
would happen. When I'm on the podium I have a lot of things go through my mind.
Is it still a good idea the Shoey?
I have no idea I haven't got sick from it so that's that's important.
I didn't think it would take off like it did, I just
wanted to break the ice cuz you see so many drivers up there and like you've
got a podium you know whether it's first second or third you've done pretty well.
I think back to the where it all started or all the the bad days where you wanted
to kind of throw it all in and then you look down and see everyone cheering.
That, that is definitely worth it.
G'day Paul.
It doesn't make sense for me when people don't do something they're passionate about.
I'm not saying you need to be famous or make it on a world stage in what you do
but just do something that you love doing.
Wow that's really cool
I mean besides that part it's really cool.
I think if there's one thing I want to be remembered for, it's someone who put everything into.
What makes me happy on a Sunday after race is leaving, flying home
with no regrets.