Jake Zemke

Read about Jake Zemke, including career highlights, pictures and news about Jake Zemke right here at Motorcycle USA.

Jake Zemke made his debut as a full-time professional road racer when he was 21, finishing third in his first season in AMA Harley-Davidson SuperTwins. He then spent the following years competing in multiple classes to learn the ins and outs of the sport.

Zemke took second overall in 750 Superstock in 1999 and Formula Xtreme in 2000, including a win at Laguna Seca. In 2002 he tied for first in Formula Xtreme, although he was awarded runner-up status based on the tie-breaker. Zemke's first Superbike victory was at Brainerd International Raceway in 2004 and his first Daytona 200 win took place in 2006. Zemke's claim to fame came in '06 when he was the lone race winner not to sport the last name of Spies or Mladin. Jake the Snake snagged a win at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah and the high point of Zemke's '06 season may have been his victory at the Daytona 200. 
 
After placing third in the 2007 AMA Superbike Championship, all of Zemke's hard work paid off in 2008 when he won his first AMA Racing Championship by claiming the Formula Xtreme title. The next year Zemke collected two second-place finishes and 14 top-10 results, earning him a ride with Michael Jordan Motorsports for the 2010 season.

The 34-year-old rode to another great finish in 2010, taking two wins and three podium finishes to claim third overall in the AMA Superbike series.

For 2011 Zemke will contest the Daytona SportBike Championship aboard the Project 1 Atlanta team.