Michael Jordan Motorsports’ secret swing arm Aurora – Most people may know that Michael Jordan Motorsports’ rider Jason Pridmore is formidable on the track in the AMA Superbike and Superstock classes. What they may not know, however, is that Jason is also a force to be reckoned with off the track. Jason, 36, may use state-of-the-art swing arms on the Jordan Suzuki backed race bikes, but it’s his arm swing off the track that has him competing in the 95th California Amateur Championship June 19-24 at Pebble Beach Golf Links; Poppy Hills Golf Course on the Monterey Peninsula. Pridmore tied for 2nd in the 23rd SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Bear Creek Golf Club earning him the right to play in the California Amateur and the 107th SCGA Amateur Championship July 7-9 at Bakersfield Country Club, without the requisite qualifying rounds. “I didn’t even know,” states Jason. “The scorers table showed that the top five guys are automatically exempted into the Amateurs and the Mid-Am in 2007.” He added, “This is huge for me because on an 18-hole qualifier anything can happen!” Jason should know that anything can happen at the track too as he injured himself last season, but was able to start hitting his Titleist before his doctor released him to ride his Jordan Suzuki race bikes. “Golf motivates me to improve on everything,” says Pridmore. Jason said he doesn’t even think about golf when he’s at the racetrack. Pridmore, who often travels via motor home between races never leaves home without his clubs, “you never know when a good opportunity is going to come, so I take my clubs everywhere with me. Golf has done a lot for my career, not just through MJ, but through a lot of different people that I have met over the years it has opened a lot of doors for me.” Jason does get the opportunity to play with his boss, Michael Jordan, on occasion. As with most activities, the more you practice the better you get. “So by the end of the summer, I am giving him (Michael) two strokes a side.” Jason who started playing golf at the age of 16, momentarily dreamed about turning pro until he had the opportunity to play a round with Luke Donald. Donald ranks top 10 in the world and has a list of golf accomplishments as long as an umbrella girl’s legs. In referring to the day Jason played with Luke, he said, “I decided I was never turning pro as a golfer, it was unbelievable!” And for the past two years when visiting Valencia Spain for Moto GP, Pridmore has also played golf with Severiano (Seve) Ballesteros, two-time U.S. Masters champion. Pridmore may not be a professional golfer, but he is a professional motorcycle racer who has won two AMA National Championships and one FIM World Endurance title, but still aspires to win a Superbike championship. Admittedly he says, “This year is really tough. With nine factory riders filling the grid, unless you are on the best equipment it makes winning the championship still a bit of a dream. Right now, we are trying to do the best for MJ and just trying to get his name out there and gain more exposure.” Pridmore’s best opportunity to win an AMA Championship in 2006 is in the Superstock class which features lightly modified 1000cc based machines. At the end of April, the AMA series enters a three week break between races. Jason who stays fit by riding a bicycle, said he can’t wait to get home and ride. He chuckled when asked if there is anyone he’d be too nervous to play golf with “no, but it’d be hard for me to go for a bicycle ride with Lance Armstrong.”