A teenage superbike star is excited at the prospect of becoming a British champion.
Fred McMullan, 16, from Saxmundham first got on a motorbike at the age of four.
Most recently, he took part in the British Superbike Championships securing an eighth-place finish at Snetterton in 2022, and has done well again in 2023 whilst taking part in the Bennetts British Junior Supersport Championship. (He has also competed in ‘grassroots’ races).
Fred said: “At the moment I’m the youngest in my class, riding against people in their forties. You can hit speeds of up to 150 to 160mph. When you are riding that fast you go in to tunnel vision so it doesn’t feel fast. In fact, I feel like I’m going slow as I’m having so much fun. I’ve raced at lots of the top tracks like Brands Hatch, Silverstone, and Snetterton. It’s nice to race at those tracks – you feel special riding there knowing who has ridden on the track before.”
So what does it feel like to have a battle with someone on the track?
Fred – who competes for 3D Racing Orwell Motorcycles Ltd – continued: “It feels good to have a battle with someone and overtake them but there is always a lot of respect. You have to have respect for each other when you are racing at those speeds.”
The season has now finished and Fred will be back on the track in March 2024. He says he looks up to people like Carl Fogarty and Valentino Rossi as ‘they are determined to win’ and has big ambitions himself.
Fred said: “I want to become a British champion and keep trying to be the best. British champion would be more realistic – but becoming world champion would be even better.
It costs a lot to run a bike (about £10k a year) and I’m grateful to my sponsors and my dad and family. But I could always do with a bit of support. So if anyone reads this and would like to help, please do get in touch: fredmcmullan917@gmail.com.”
Outside of motorbikes, Fred is currently studying on a level one multi-skills construction course at Suffolk New College On The Coast in Halesworth.
His tutor Christopher Baird said that what Fred is doing outside of the classroom is an inspiration to everyone. Chris said: “I think it is good to have aims outside of college. He inspires other students and staff. It’s great for them to see others achieve amazing things as it will hopefully make them want to shoot for the moon.”