Jason Pridmore (born October 4, 1969 in Goleta, California) is a retired American professional motorcycle racer who turned professional in 1990. He last raced professionally in the 2014 FIM World Endurance Championship on a BMW S1000RR for Team Penz 13. His professional career spanned 22 years, during which he won 21 American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) national races 17 of which are Superstock class wins (Formerly Supersport) which is second to Scott Russell.[1] Pridmore was the AMA Formula Extreme Championship in 2002, the AMA 750 Supersport Championship in 1997 as well as the FIM Endurance World Championship title in 2003 & 2012 respectively.[2] In addition to his professional racing career Pridmore instructs motorcyclists through his STAR Motorcycle school and JP43 Training programs.[3] Pridmore also spends time as an expert analyst for Bein Sports coverage of the Moto America championships.[4]
Coaching career
editPridmore began coaching riders at his father's CLASS Motorcycle Schools when he was 16 years old. While racing professionally Pridmore mentored some of his younger teammates including Ben Spies, Nicky Hayden and Danny Eslick.[2] His passion for sharing his knowledge led Pridmore to found STAR Motorcycle School in 1999 which he continues to run today.
STAR Motorcycle School
editThrough STAR (Skills and Tactics for Advanced Riding) Pridmore has coached thousands of riders of varying levels ranging from beginners, trackday enthusiasts, amateur club racers as well as aspiring professionals. The school has travelled extensively across the country to some of the nations finest race tracks. Currently STAR School operates out of Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in Desert Center, CA.
JP43 Training
editPost retirement Pridmore began working extensively with both professional and club level riders in a 1-on-1 setting which has led to several noteworthy accomplishments. James Rispoli who came to road racing at a later age than most professionals won the AMA Supersport championship in 2011 and 2012 under Pridmore's tutelage.[5] He continued onto international competition first by being offered a wildcard into the Moto 2 World Championship in 2013[6] and currently races in the British Superbike Championship. Corey Alexander won the 2013 AMA Supersport Championship and went on to race in the FIM World Supersport Championship in 2013.[7] Other successful professional riders that Pridmore has worked with on a 1-on-1 basis include Benny Solis, Michael Gilbert, Elena Meyers,[8] Caroline Olsen, Andrew Lee, Wyatt Farris, Conner Blevins and Patricia Fernandez. His 1-on-1 training sessions are not limited to professional riders, Pridmore trains trackday enthusiasts as well as competitive club racers out of Chuckwalla Valley Raceway and also travels to racetracks nationally and internationally to work with riders.
Military Coaching
editThrough STAR Motorcycle as well as his individual programs Pridmore has trained thousands of US Military servicemen and servicewomen to be safer on their motorcycles.[9] He conducts training both on military bases as well as on race tracks for the Marines and National Guard.[10] Pridmore is an official instructor for the United States Marines Semper Ride[11] program which has helped reduce US Marine incidents on motorcycles by over 46%.
Racing career
editPridmore first raced professionally in 1990 in the AMA 750 Superstock Championship. He continued racing in various AMA championships including AMA 600 Supersport, AMA Formula Xtreme and AMA Superbike. Pridmore competed at the international level in the World Superbike Championship in 2008, the FIM World Supersport Championship in 2003 and most extensively in the FIM World Endurance Championship on and off between 1997 & 2014.[12]
Career highlights
edit- 2012 - Co-rode for the FIM Endurance World Championship winning team.
- 2008 - Competed in five rounds of the 2008 Superbike World Championship on a Honda 1000cc machine for the Alto Evolution team.[13]
- 2003 - Became the first American make it to the podium of a World Supersport Race.[2] Won the FIM Endurance World Championship with Phase One Endurance team partnered with James Ellison as his teammate.
- 2002 - Won the AMA Formula Xtreme Championship for Attack Suzuki.
- 1997 - Won the 750 Supersport class championship riding for Hypercycle Suzuki.[2]
- 1996 - Six top-five finishes in 600 SuperSport, Five top-10 750cc SuperSport finishes
- 1992 - Won his first race as a professional At Brainerd, Minn., while handing Scott Russell his first defeat in three years. He again upset Russell with a come-from-behind victory at Road Atlanta two weeks later.[14]
AMA Career by Year
edit| Year | Class | Finish | Team | Bike | Teammate(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Superbike / Superstock | 17th / 19th | Michael Jordan Motorsports | Suzuki 1000cc | Steve Rapp / Montez Stuart |
| 2004 | Superstock / Formula Xtreme | 11th / 6th | No Limit Motorsports | Suzuki 1000cc | Josh Hayes |
| 2003 | Superbike / Formula Xtreme | 8th / 9th | Attack Suzuki | Suzuki 1000cc | Josh Hayes |
| 2002 | 600 Supersport / Formula Xtreme | 4th / 1st | Attack Suzuki | Suzuki 600cc / Suzuki 1000cc | Ben Spies |
| 2001 | 750 Supersport / Formula Xtreme | 28th / 10th | Attack Suzuki | Suzuki 750cc / Suzuki 1000cc | Richie Alexander |
| 2000 | 600 Supersport / 750 Superbike | 7th / 12th | Yoshimura Suzuki | Suzuki 600cc / Suzuki 750cc | Matt Mladin, Aaron Yates, Steve Rapp |
| 1999 | 600 Supersport / 750 Superbike | 10th / 6th | Yoshimura Suzuki | Suzuki 600cc / Suzuki 750cc | Matt Mladin, Aaron Yates, Steve Rapp |
| 1998 | 600 Supersport / 750 Supersport | 6th / 8th | Hypercycle | Suzuki 600cc / Suzuki 750cc | Nicky Hayden |
| 1997 | 600 Supersport / 750 Supersport | 5th / 1st | Hypercycle | Suzuki 600cc / Suzuki 750cc | Mark Miller |
| 1996 | 600 Supersport / 750 Supersport | 9th / 11th | Kinkos Racing | Kawasaki 600cc / Kawasaki 750cc | Thomas Stevens |
| 1994 | 600 Supersport / 750 Supersport | 6th / 3rd | Kinkos Racing | Yamaha 600cc / Yamaha 750cc | Tommy Wilson |
| 1993 | 600 Supersport / 750 Supersport | 7th / 4th | CLASS Racing | Kawasaki 600cc / Kawasaki 750cc | Fritz Kling |
| 1992 | 600 Supersport / 750 Supersport | 22nd / 2nd | CLASS Racing | Kawasaki 600cc / Kawasaki 750cc | Fritz Kling |
| 1991 | 750 Supersport | 20th | CLASS Racing | Kawasaki 750cc | Fritz Kling |
| 1990 | 750 Supersport | 44th | CLASS Racing | Kawasaki 750cc | Fritz Kling |
AMA Career Race Wins
edit| Date | Class | Race Track | Location | Bike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2002 | AMA Formula Xtreme | Road America | Elkhart Lake, WI | Suzuki |
| June 1, 2002 | AMA Formula Xtreme | Pikes Peak International Raceway | Fountain, CO | Suzuki |
| May 5, 2001 | AMA Formula Xtreme | Infineon Raceway | Sonoma, CA | Suzuki |
| March 9, 2001 | 750 Supersport | Daytona International Speedway | Daytona Beach, FL | Suzuki |
| August 25, 2001 | AMA Formula Xtreme | Pikes Peak International Raceway | Fountain, CO | Suzuki |
| May 3, 1998 | 750 Supersport | Sears Point Raceway | Sonoma, CA | Suzuki |
| June 21, 1998 | 750 Supersport | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | Loudon, NH | Suzuki |
| June 14, 1998 | 750 Supersport | Road America | Elkhart Lake, WI | Suzuki |
| February 15, 1998 | 750 Supersport | Phoenix International Raceway | Phoenix, AZ | Suzuki |
| October 4, 1997 | 750 Supersport | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Las Vegas, NV | Suzuki |
| March 7, 1997 | 750 Supersport | Daytona International Speedway | Daytona Beach, FL | Suzuki |
| June 28, 1997 | 750 Supersport | Brainerd International Raceway | Brainerd, MN | Suzuki |
| June 14, 1997 | 750 Supersport | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | Loudon, NH | Suzuki |
| July 19, 1997 | 750 Supersport | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Lexington, OH | Suzuki |
| February 15, 1997 | 750 Supersport | Phoenix International Raceway | Phoenix, AZ | Suzuki |
| August 30, 1997 | 750 Supersport | Sears Point Raceway | Sonoma, CA | Suzuki |
| August 16, 1997 | 750 Supersport | Pikes Peak International Raceway | Fountain, CO | Suzuki |
| August 7, 1993 | 750 Supersport | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Lexington, OH | Kawasaki |
| August 28, 1993 | 750 Supersport | Sears Point Raceway | Sonoma, CA | Kawasaki |
| June 27, 1992 | 750 Supersport | Road America | Elkhart Lake, WI | Kawasaki |
| June 13, 1992 | 750 Supersport | Brainerd International Raceway | Brainerd, MN | Kawasaki |
FIM Endurance World Championship
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Personal life
editPridmore is the son of three time AMA Superbike champion Reg Pridmore.[3] He was raised and currently resides in Ventura, California. He is an avid Golfer and has competed in the US National Amateur Championship[15] as well as the qualifying rounds for the US Open.[16]
References
edit- ^ PitPass, Radio (December 17, 2013). "Hear World Endurance Racer Jason Pridmore On The Radio Tonight". www.roadracingworld.com.
- ^ a b c d RoadRacing, World (October 6, 2006). "More On Jason Pridmore's Retirement". www.roadracingworld.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ a b Swarts, David (November 29, 2016). "Coaching Spreads From MotoGP to MotoAmerica". www.roadracingworld.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ Pridmore, Jason (October 27, 2016). "JASON PRIDMORE PREVIEWS WORLDSBK FINALE". www.beinsports.com.
- ^ "Rispoli To Ride For Celtic-Orient Express Racing In 2012". Roadracing World. January 14, 2012. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ "American wildcards poised for action". www.motogp.com. June 1, 2013.
- ^ Roadracing, World (October 30, 2013). "More On American Corey Alexander Racing In FIM World Supersport With PTR Honda". www.roadracingworld.com.
- ^ Roadracing, World (April 10, 2008). "Racer Elena Myers Does A Deal With Jason Pridmore And STAR School". www.roadracingworld.com.
- ^ Buckley, Melissa (April 26, 2012). "Marine motorcycle riders train with professional racers". www.myguidon.com.
- ^ BEELER, JENSEN (September 11, 2012). "A&R Goes Riding with the Army National Guard at Jason Pridmore's STAR School at Thunderhill". www.asphaltandrubber.com.
- ^ "Kawasaki Official Motorcycle of Star School Through 2016". www.motorcycle-usa.com. July 1, 2015.
- ^ Roadracing, World (February 16, 2001). "Jason Pridmore To Race Le Mans 24-Hour On GSX-R1000 With World Championship-winning Team". www.roadracingworld.com.
- ^ Motorcyclist, Online (February 23, 2009). "Former AMA Champion Jason Pridmore Making A Full Time Return To Superbike Racing". www.motorcyclistonline.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ GLICK, SHAV (October 2, 1992). "MOTOR RACING : Jason Pridmore Was Born to Ride". Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ Buttitta, Bob (July 31, 2012). "Pridmore has had an equal lifelong love for golf and motorcycles". Ventura County Start. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017 – via Website.
- ^ Shefter, David (May 14, 2013). "Motorcycle Racer Pridmore Seeking U.S. Open Thriller". Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.