History
The Michael Jordan Motorsports legacy begins with colors and graphics which have personal meaning to Michael and the timeless designs of his Air Jordan shoes. Through the years, the University of North Carolina, the Olympic Games and releases of the 20th Anniversary Air Jordan, the Air Jordan Retro 4 and the latest Air Jordan XXIII (23) shoe provide the sole of the Michael Jordan Motorsports legacy. They all help tell the story of our racing team…
Year 6 (2009)
Two Riders: Aaron Yates #23, and Geoff May #54 compete in the new AMA American Superbike class which replaces the previous Superbike class and eliminates the Superstock class.
All white color scheme with emphasis on the elephant print design marks year 6 for Jordan Suzuki and the National Guard is welcomed aboard as the primary sponsor of the #54 bike ridden by Geoff May.
Michael Jordan Motorsports jumps into Superbike contention
-Yates (Jordan Suzuki) earns 6 podium finishes including two seconds (the team’s highest placement)
-Yates qualifies second 3 times in Superpole and front row 5 times total
-May (National Guard Jordan Suzuki) earns 3 podiums
-May qualifies third 4 times in Superpole and front row 6 times
-Team has 9 podiums and 17 top five finishes
Year 5 (2008)
Two Riders: Aaron Yates #20 and Geoff May #99 compete in AMA Superbike and Superstock classes--Yates on class specific equipment while May competes in both classes with Superstock equipment.
Air Jordan XXIII in Carolina Blue color scheme is presented
Jordan Suzuki dominates and wins 2008 AMA Superstock Championship
-Yates earns 5 wins and 5 poles while setting numerous track records during the season
-Yates finishes first or second in every race and clinches the Championship at Road Atlanta with one round still remaining
-May has 2 race wins and 1 pole position and finishes second in the championship
-Team earns 7 wins, 6 poles and 15 podiums for the season
Year Four of Jordan Suzuki’s Superbike program showing steady improvement while concentrating on winning the Superstock championship
-25 top ten finishes and 9 qualifying positions in first two rows
-1 podium finish and 4 fourth place finishes Year 4 (2007)
Two Riders: Aaron Yates #20 and Jake Holden #59 compete in AMA Superbike and Superstock classes - Yates competes on class specific equipment while Holden competes in both classes on Superstock equipment. Yates brings the experience of 4 AMA National Championships to team:
- AMA 1000 Superstock (2005)
- AMA 600 Supersport (2002)
- AMA 750 Supersport (1996)
- AMA SuperTeams (1995)
Air Jordan Retro 4 color scheme marks year four of Michael Jordan Motorsports
Jordan Suzuki jumps into Superstock championship contention:
- Yates grabs team their first pole position at Barber Motorsports Park
- Yates and Holden earn first and second spots on podium at Barber Motorsports Park
- Yates breaks two track records at Barber Motorsports Park
(Fastest single lap time of 1:25.619 at a speed of 96.707 mph and
fastest 24-lap Superstock event held with an elapsed time of 24:35.072)
- Holden and Yates finish second and third respectively at California Speedway
- Holden earns team their second win at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway and pole position
- Team earns 9 podiums for the season
Year Three of Jordan Suzuki’s Superbike program:
- Yates validates Superbike effort with three podium finishes (Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway, Virginia International Raceway, and Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway II)
- Earns 11 top-five finishes and 15 top-10 finishes in 19 races
Year 3 (2006)
Three Riders: Jason Pridmore #43, Steve Rapp #15, Jake Holden #59
Pridmore competes on class specific equipment in both AMA Superbike and Superstock while Rapp and Holden compete in both classes on Superstock equipment.
“Gold Medal” color scheme signifies Michael Jordan’s achievements with Team USA in the Olympic games (1984 and 1992)
Pridmore, Rapp and Holden combine for 20 Top-10 finishes in AMA Superstock and Holden leads race two of AMA Superstock event at Mid-Ohio before crashing. He rebounds to win AMA Superbike consolation race in Championship Shootout.
Year two of Jordan Suzuki’s Superbike program shows steady improvement as Jason Pridmore earns 15 top-10 finishes and has his best AMA Superbike finish (fifth) at Mid-Ohio after he announces retirement.
Year 2 (2005)
Three Riders: Jason Pridmore #43, Steve Rapp #15, Montez Stewart #123
Michael Jordan Motorsports expands into the premier class of competition as Pridmore competes on the team’s first Superbike while also competing in the Superstock class. Rapp competes in both classes on Superstock equipment while Stewart competes in the Superstock class.
Inspired by Michael’s life and career, detailed graphics reflected in the bike and the Air Jordan XX Shoe celebrate the 20-year bond between Michael and Nike’s Jordan Brand.
2005 also marks the first year of the Michael Jordan Motorsports partnership with Suzuki. All 3 riders compete on the Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Michael Jordan Motorsports gets their first AMA Superstock podium as Jason Pridmore finishes 3rd in the season opening event at Daytona International Speedway. Jason also scores 8 top-10 finishes in AMA Superbike despite being injured at round 2 and missing 5 events.
Steve Rapp is consistently strong all season scoring 10 top-10 finishes, including 2 trips to the podium, and 3rd in the AMA Superstock Championship. Steve does double duty, also riding in the AMA Superbike class scoring 9 top-10 finishes.
Year 1 (2004)
One Rider: Montez Stewart #123
Michael Jordan Motorsports is established on Feb. 1, 2004. With the assistance of Gemini Racing and Live Nation, the concept is driven to a fully equipped race team in only four weeks time.
The Carolina Blue color symbolizes the birthplace of Jordan’s collegiate basketball career at the University of North Carolina.
It is a learning year for rider and team as Stewart competes on a Yamaha YZF-R1 in AMA Superstock class and a Yamaha YZF-R6 in AMA Supersport class.
Pascal Picotte steps in for the injured Stewart at Elkhart Lake’s Road America and raced the Superbike class on a Superstock bike. He finished 14th after running as high as 7th during the race.
