Profile
James has been racing motorcycles since the age of six. He started flattrack racing in New Hampshire on a Suzuki JR 50. He raced local flattrack races throughout New England and New York coming up the amateur ranks. James went to his first AMA Amateur Flattrack Grand Championships when he was nine years old and won the Amateur Grand Championship in the modified 60cc class in his first year. With the help of his parents and several early sponsors he continued to climb the amateur ranks winning AMA Amateur Grand Championships in the 80cc, 250cc, 450cc and 505cc classes. James achieved dozens of AMA amateur national flattrack titles along the way.
In 2008 James received his AMA Pro Flattrack license and AMA Pro Road Racing license. He raced the AMA Pro MotoST Endurance series and is credited as the youngest rider at age 16 to win at the Daytona International Speedway. James continued his AMA Pro Flattrack career achieving second place overall in the AMA Pro Singles series also winning at the Daytona Short Track.
James continued to hone his road racing skills and find additional sponsorship, in 2011 with the help of the National Guard and Jason Pridmore’s Star School James won the AMA Pro SuperSport East Championship as well as the overall National #1 plate and young gun award. Not yet satisfied with his skill set, James challenged the AMA Pro SuperSport West Championship in 2012 on the Celtic/Orient Express Racing team with support from Michael Jordan Motorsports and became the first two time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion and the only racer to win both the East and West Coast Championships back to back.
Along with James two AMA Pro SuperSport National Championships he holds two AMA Bonneville Salt Flat Land Speed Records in the 650 and 750 twin categories. In 2013 James has moved up to AMA Pro SportBike Class, was tied for rookie of the year going into the last race of the season and had his first DNF due to a mechanical, the first in 3 seasons. James rode for Michael Jordan Motorsports and the National Guard/Celtic Racing Team.
In 2013, James also competed as a wild card entry in the MotoGP world championship in the Moto2 division for team GP Tech using a Tech3 supported Moto2 bike. James was the only American wild card rider in 2013.
For 2014, James will be riding in the prestigious British Superbike Series in the top 600 Supersport class and will have support of personal sponsor Monster Energy as will the team. He will be riding a 2014 Suzuki GSX-R600 similar to the motorcycles he won (2) back to back AMA Pro National Supersport titles in 2011 and 2012 in America.
“I am extremely pleased to be part of Team Traction Control and racing in the prestegious British Superbike Series. Many great riders have come through this series and I too am looking forward to my first full season on their historic circuits. I want to thank Keith Flint for believing in me and giving me a chance as the entire team makes their debut this year.”
Q&A;
Age
:
22
Years Racing:
Motorbike Racer
Proudest moment of your racing career:
Winning back to back championships.
Target for the season:
To be consistent, get points in every race and be a podium runner.
Best Looking Race Bike of all Time
:
Rossi’s Honda NSR 500
Three Favourite Racers of all Time
:
1) Rossi
2) Ricky Carmichael
3) Steve Mercer
Best Circuit on the Calendar
:
Brands Hatch GP
Three Bikes you would most like to own
:
1) Honda 500 GP Bike
2) XR 750 Dirt Track
3) Some cool as f!!k Cafe Racer
Obviously the team has a unique owner, name three other musicians you’d like to see in the paddock
:
1) Jimmy hendrix (in the day)
2) Dr Dre
3) Eminem
Best bit of the job
:
Doing what i love – everyday
Which three people would you most like to see holding the brollies on the grid (Male or Female)
:
1) Emma Watson
2) Monster Girls
3) More Monster Girls
Worst bit of the job
:
Nothing I don’t like – I am a Motorcycle Racer
What three things could you not cope without
:
1) Family
2) Motorcycle Racing
3) Mexican food