Team Green support from Kawasaki

Eventually Jamie earned Team Green support from Kawasaki, which provided some much needed parts and advice. His outstanding performance later attracted factory Honda support, which no other rider in the district had earned. They provided him with 2 dirt bikes and parts, which were greatly appreciated and helped him improve his performance and further develop his skills. He went on to win many races, which was quite an accomplishment considering he was running only a limited schedule.

Jamie with parents Brian and Jenny
Jamie’s family, especially his father Brian, has always been a major influence on him and his career. From a very early age, Brian challenged him and instilled a competitive drive and spirit that would serve him well throughout his racing career. With this attitude, Jamie had never been satisfied with his performances and had always driven himself to be the best. If he were not winning, he felt that he had let himself down as well as everyone else around him. Unfortunately, that same attitude had caused Jamie to push himself and his body beyond the limits of his equipment and the track, resulting in mistakes and injuries.

By his senior year in high school, the stress of traveling, injuries, and school commitments had taken its toll. Jamie was burned out and decided to take a break from racing, but like any true racer it wasn’t long before his competitive spirit came back. This time though, it would take the form of a road racing career rather than motocross.

In 1994, a couple of Jamie’s friends convinced him to enroll in a certification class conducted during a CCS (Championship Cup Series) event in Savannah, GA. This class would certify him to ride in the CCS club races. He had only ever sat on a street bike a couple of times in his life, and he’d never been on a track or ever rode competitively. Jamie was a natural and passed the class with flying colors, even passing his teacher on one occasion. The teacher was impressed and later that day pulled Jamie aside, telling him he could go far in the sport.

Later that year, with the help of his friends, Jamie entered the last CCS race of the season He piloted his own 1990 Kawasaki ZX7 street bike, his only means of transportation, which vapor locked before the end of the race and he fell out. While this wasn’t exactly a stellar beginning to a road racing career, Jamie had received a taste of what was possible and was hooked.