JASON PRIDMORE TO RACE PHILLIP ISLAND CLASSIC
Culver City, CA – Two-time AMA champion, two-time World Endurance champion, and beIN Sports MotoAmerica commentator Jason Pridmore is set to race the 2018 Australian Motorcycle News International Island Classic at Phillip Island, an increasingly high-profile event with a cast of accomplished competitors, including the likes of Brit Jeremy McWilliams and Australian Troy Corser. Pridmore will contest the International Challenge for the US Team alongside American WorldSBK champion and MotoGP racer Colin Edwards and AMA Jake Zemke.
Pridmore will mount his Classic challenge aboard a CMR FJ1300. Following a successful one-day test at Willow Springs International Raceway, the bike was packed and loaded for its long journey across the Pacific.
“I’ve known about the Philip Island Classic for many years and I am excited to make my first trip to Australia in January. There were so many moving pieces for this to all work out. Huge thanks to Ralph Hudson for giving me the opportunity to ride his bike, he’s been a pleasure to get to know and I’m happy he is making the trip over with us. Benny Solis, Sr. has done an amazing job getting the bike ready in such short time. Its going to be a blast to hang with Colin and Jake as well as all the other Team USA members. It’s incredible seeing the names that will be there competing and I am looking forward to joining in and having a bit of fun. And a big thank you to Dunlop, Galfer, GP Suspension, Dainese and AGV for their support.“
Ralph Hudson added, “I had decided not to ride at PI, since I hadn’t road raced in a couple of years. I was wanting to concentrate on my land speed racing, the target being over 300 mph in Bolivia. Dave Crussell asked if i would be interested in letting someone else ride my XR69 replica. I said no. Dave asked if I would at least talk to someone…. Jason Pridmore. I knew his name, had raced in the same era as his father, Reg. Jason was so excited about going to race at PI, I got caught up in his enthusiasm and said yes!”
“We are so pleased to have Jason join the team. A big thanks to Ralph Hudson, 2017 FIM Champion Speed Racer and long-time team USA member, for loaning his bike to Jason. Our investment in bikes over the last 3 years is really paying off and we are attracting some very talented riders to the team.” said Team USA Captain Dave Crussell
Pridmore will be joined at the Island by widely-respected tuner and mechanic Ben Solis Sr., father to MotoAmerica racer and JP43 Training instructor Benny Solis Jr. Pridmore and Senior first met in the spring of 2013, when Senior approached Pridmore about coaching his young but already highly-accomplished son. Since then, the pair have been fast friends, and Pridmore was ecstatic when Senior agreed to crew for him at The Classic.
About Jason Pridmore:
Pridmore first raced professionally in the 1990 AMA 750 Superstock Championship, and has since tallied 21 AMA National wins, two AMA championships, two World Endurance titles, had a brief stint in WSBK, and a World Supersport podium before finally retiring from regular competition in 2006. Restless in retirement, Jason continued to race internationally in the World Endurance Championship, which his team won in 2013. In recent years, Pridmore has focused his efforts on STAR Motorcycle School and growing his JP43 Training riding school, which includes small-group training events and 1-on-1 instruction for all riding abilities.