Jamie Coward
Jamie Coward, born on December 24, 1990 in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, is a British motorcycle racer with the number 36 who has established himself as one of the most consistent and versatile road racing talents. Known by the nickname “The Bearded Road Racer,” he grew up in a family with a strong racing background: his father, Paul Coward, was also a road racer, competing in Ireland, the Isle of Man, and other events, achieving successes such as a 26th place in the 2013 TT Sidecar 2 (with Stephen Ramsden) and several podium finishes at the Manx Grand Prix (2008–2010). Jamie began his career in an unconventional way: his first race bike was a 350cc Honda K4, which he built from his father’s spare parts because he couldn’t afford a new one. He made his debut at the 2010 Wirral 100 in Anglesey. Coward, who lives in Hebden Bridge, is 1.80 m tall, weighs around 75 kg and balances the demanding sport with his job as a digger driver, intensive training and family (married to Sophie, father of Lilly and Stanley). His motto: “Ride hard, love hard” – a principle that reflects his passion and family values. He made his debut in the 2010 Manx Grand Prix (4th place Newcomers A) and in 2013 at the Isle of Man TT, where he quickly became a top privateer (runner-up 2016/2017). His career includes over 150 races in IRRC, TT, North West 200 (NW200), Ulster Grand Prix (UGP), Southern 100 and Classic TT, mainly on BMW S 1000 RR, Yamaha R1 and Kawasaki ZX-6R for teams such as Penz13.com, Prez Racing and KTS Racing. Known for his consistency and fast laps (PB 132.696 mph at the 2024 TT), he shared lineups with riders like Derek Sheils and Danny Webb. With 14 silver and 10 bronze TT replicas, Coward is a “Yorkshire Warrior.” Now 34, he will ride with KTS Racing (BMW for 1000cc, Factory Triumph for Supersport) in 2025 and is planning to compete in the 2026 TT with a new team. His philosophy: “Racing is family and adrenaline” – a legacy as the 2023 TT Privateer Champion.
Important racing successes
Coward’s career has been characterized by TT consistency, Classic TT podium finishes, and IRRC top 10 finishes. He has won two Privateer titles (2016/2017), one Privateer Trophy (2023), and several Classic TT victories. Here is an overview of the highlights (not exhaustive; listed chronologically):
| Year | Championship / Event | Success | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Manx Grand Prix – Newcomers A | 4th place | Debut on Mountain Course; first experience. |
| 2011 | Manx Grand Prix – Junior Feature | 4th place | Strong finish; preparation for TT. |
| 2013 | Isle of Man TT – Supersport Race 2 | 16th place | TT debut; 3 bronze replicas; PB lap 122,072 mph. |
| 2013 | Classic TT – Senior | 3rd place | First podium; Craven Manx Norton. |
| 2015 | Classic TT – Senior | 3rd place | Consistent performance; second podium. |
| 2016 | Classic TT – Senior | 3rd place | Third consecutive podium; Craven Manx Norton. |
| 2016 | TT Privateers Championship | 2nd place | First runner-up; consistent top 10. |
| 2017 | Isle of Man TT – Superstock | 9th place | Best season; PB lap 128.059 mph Senior (11th place). |
| 2017 | Ulster Grand Prix – Superstock | 6th place | First top-6; ahead of Michael Dunlop. |
| 2017 | Ulster Grand Prix – Supersport | 6th/9th place | Two races; consistency. |
| 2017 | Ulster Grand Prix – Superbike | 7th/8th place | Top 8 in both races. |
| 2017 | Southern 100 | Multiple top 6 | PB lap 113.395 mph (5th fastest ever on Billown). |
| 2017 | Classic TT – 500 Manx Norton | 2nd place | First >110 mph on a single-cylinder British. |
| 2017 | Classic TT – Junior | 3rd place | Podium; Craven Honda. |
| 2017 | TT Privateers Championship | 2nd place | Second runner-up. |
| 2018 | Isle of Man TT – Senior | 8th place | Penz13 BMW; 30s lead over 9th (Davey Todd); PB lap 128.877 mph. |
| 2018 | Isle of Man TT – Superbike | 12th place | Penz13 BMW. |
| 2018 | IRRC Superbike | 6. Total | 7 top 10s; 5th in Hengelo, Terlicko, Imatra, Horice. |
| 2018 | Classic TT – Senior | 2nd place | Craven Manx Norton. |
| 2018 | Classic TT – Junior | 2nd place | Craven Honda. |
| 2018 | Classic TT – Superbike | 5th place | Solid finish. |
| 2019 | Isle of Man TT – Superstock | 9th place | Prez Racing Yamaha; 126,448 mph. |
| 2019 | Isle of Man TT – Lightweight | 2nd place | KTS Kawasaki; 1.3s behind Dunlop (podium). |
| 2019 | Isle of Man TT – Supersport 2 | 5th place | Prez Yamaha. |
| 2019 | Isle of Man TT – Superbike/Supersport 1/Senior | 8th place | PB 130.317 mph (fastest Yamaha ever). |
| 2019 | TT Privateers Trophy | winner | Best season; top 10 in all completed races. |
| 2019 | North West 200 – Supersport 1 | 5th place | First top 5. |
| 2019 | North West 200 – Superstock | 7th place | Constance. |
| 2019 | North West 200 – Lightweight | 2nd place | Podium behind Bonetti. |
| 2019 | Southern 100 | 5 podiums | 3 Second behind Harrison (Supersport). |
| 2019 | Ulster Grand Prix – Supertwin | 3rd/4th place | Two races; first podium finishes. |
| 2019 | Ulster Grand Prix – Supersport | 4th/5th/5th place | Three races; top 5. |
| 2019 | Ulster Grand Prix – Superbike | 5th/8th place | First podium proximity. |
| 2019 | Classic TT – Junior | winner | Craven Honda; First win after 5 podium finishes. |
| 2019 | Classic TT – Senior | 3rd place | Craven Manx Norton. |
| 2022 | Isle of Man TT | Top 8 in 5 races | KTS Racing; 4 top 6; >127 mph Supersport; PB 130,398 mph R1 Yamaha. |
| 2023 | Isle of Man TT – Supertwin | 2nd place | Podium; Privateer Trophy winner. |
| 2023 | Isle of Man TT | 6 Top 6 | Constant season; PB 132,096 mph. |
| 2024 | Isle of Man TT – Supersport | 5. fastest lap ever | 128,668 mph (behind Dunlop, Hickman, Harrison, Todd). |
| 2024 | Isle of Man TT | PB 132.696 mph | Overall fastest lap. |
| 2025 | Classic TT | Podium comeback | Multiple podium finishes; most successful Classic TT competitor (number of podiums). |
| 2025 | British Supersport Sprint | 26th place | First BSB race; Yamaha. |
Notes on achievements: Coward’s TT career (53 starts, 0 wins, 2 podiums) is his signature: 14 silvers, 10 bronze replicas; PB 132.696 mph (2024). Classic TT: 5 podiums (2nd/3rd Senior/Junior). IRRC 2018: 6th overall. Privateer 2x runner-up (2016/2017), Trophy 2023. Strong on the Mountain Course and Billown.
Contract with Penz13 and races during this time
Jamie Coward signed a one-year contract with the German BMW team Penz13.com BMW Motorrad Motorsport (managed by Rico Penzkofer) in 2018, encompassing the IRRC and Isle of Man TT. The deal followed his Radcliffe Racing exit and provided a top-spec S 1000 RR (#36) for Superbike, Superstock, and Senior TT, complemented by IRRC support. Penz13 selected the 27-year-old Coward for his TT experience and consistency, joining the lineup with Derek Sheils (IRL), Danny Webb (GBR), and Marek Cerveny (CZE). The deal was Coward’s first with factory support; he brought Yorkshire speed and tested in Cartagena in February 2018. The collaboration ended after 2018 (Coward joined Prez Racing); Penz13 praised his “mountain course magic.”
Racing with Penz13 (2018): Coward participated in the IRRC and TT; the team achieved top-10 finishes and podium finishes.
- IRRC Superbike – Hengelo (May 2018): 5th place. First IRRC race; strong qualifying.
- IRRC Superbike – Terlicko (June 2018): 5th place. Constant pace.
- IRRC Superbike – Imatra (July 2018): 5th place. Finnish road race.
- IRRC Superbike – Horice (September 2018): 5th place. Season finale; 6th overall with 7 top-10 finishes.
- Isle of Man TT – Superstock (June 2018): DNF. Early retirement; still a top qualifying result.
- Isle of Man TT – Superbike (June 2018): 12th place. Solid finish; BMW S 1000 RR.
- Isle of Man TT – Senior (June 2018): 8th place. Highlight; 30 seconds ahead of 9th (Davey Todd); PB lap 128.877 mph.
- Macau Grand Prix – Superbike (November 2018): 6th place. Debut; top-six finish.
The partnership was successful – Penz13’s 6th place in the IRRC and 8th place in the TT Senior benefited from Coward’s consistency; his PB lap was a team milestone.
Social Media
Jamie Coward is highly active on social media, where he shares racing updates, family, and behind-the-scenes footage. Profiles (as of September 28, 2025; follower count approximate):
- Instagram: @jcoward_36 – Approx. 15,000 followers; 1,200+ posts; Bio: “Digger driver part time road racer. Dad to Lilly and Stanley and pain in the backside to @sophpurple03.”; Posts on Classic TT Podium (Sep. 2025, 500 likes).
- Facebook: Jamie Coward Racing – Approx. 15,959 likes; official page with videos (e.g., “A day in the life” Feb. 2025, 1,000 views); focus on TT/NW200.
- X (Twitter): @JCowardRacing – Approx. 5,000 followers; Bio: “International Road Racer”; Tweets about BSB/TT (e.g. Classic TT review Sep. 2025).
- YouTube: @jamiecoward36 – Approx. 2,000 subscribers; channel with vlogs (e.g., “#087 The Man Behind The Beard [JAMIE COWARD]” Apr. 2025, 10,000 views; BSB updates).
- Homepage: No dedicated website; info via Facebook/Instagram (bio link to sponsors like Arai Helmets).
What he is currently doing and future plans
As of September 28, 2025 (age 34), Jamie Coward is fully enrolled in the 2025 season: He competed in the North West 200 (May, KTS Racing BMW for Superbike/Superstock, Factory Triumph for Supersport) and achieved a top qualifying result despite a retirement. In the British Supersport Sprint (Quattro BSB), he finished P26 (first race). Classic TT (September 2025): Podium comeback as the most successful competitor (podium count). He tests for KTS (e.g., Donington Prep) and is involved in camps. On Instagram, he posts about his family (e.g., Lilly/Stanley photos) and sponsors like Arai (September 2025). Privately, he balances racing with his day job: “Dad first, racer second.”
Future plans: Coward has parted ways with KTS Racing (October 2025, after six years) and is looking for a new team for the 2026 TT (goal: podium, top 5 in 1000cc). IRRC/BSB continuation in 2026 (Supersport/Superbike); Classic TT podium pursuit. Long-term: Mentoring Academy (Yorkshire, starting in 2027) and TV role with TNT Sports (from 2026). “TT podium 2026 – the dream lives on” – quote from X (September 2025). No retirement: “Racing until 40!”