Pridmore Joins World Superbike Team

Pridmore will replace 20-year-old Luca Morelli and will race with Shuhei Aoyama on the teams neon yellow Honda CBR1000RR bikes.

Alto Evolution said in a release that the team needed a more experienced rider to help the 24-year-old Aoyamas development as a Superbike racer. Aoyama joined the team this year after racing for Repsol Hondas 250cc Grand Prix team in 2007.

The 38-year-old Pridmore will bring more experience to the team than Morelli. Pridmore has several titles to his credit, including the 2003 FIM World Endurance Championship, the 2002 AMA Formula Xtreme Championship and the 1997 AMA 750cc Supersport Championship. Pridmore also has an impressive racing pedigree; his father Reg Pridmore was the first ever AMA Superbike champion, winning the series title in its first three years of contention from 1976-1978.

Pridmore retired from racing after competing for Michael Jordan Motorsports in the 2006 AMA Superbike season. Since then, he has been the chief instructor for the Star Motorcycle School in California.

Being in the World Superbike is like a dream come true, says Pridmore. I am feeling re-motivated and excited to be here.

Having raced at Miller Motorsports Park in the circuits inaugural year in 2006, and having conducted riding school sessions at the Utah track, Pridmore will be more familiar with the course than the other racers competing in this weekends World Superbike races, having raced at Miller Motorsports Park in the circuit's inaugural year in 2006. He also conducted riding school sessions at the Utah track. Pridmore will become the only American on a regular World Superbike team this season and join wild card invitee Scott Jensen of Longmont Colo. in this weeked's race.