Lauren Prince went from first motorcycle ride to MotoAmerica podium finisher in just three years, proving that when natural talent collides with Southern California’s vibrant racing community and a serious work ethic, remarkable things happen fast.

EARLY YEARS

Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, Lauren Prince had a thrill-seeking uncle who did what all good enablers of future racers do: he nurtured her daredevil instincts and encouraged her to “Ride Like the Wind.” It’s the kind of influence that either results in a legendary racing career or a bunch of awkward emergency room visits—fortunately for Prince, it was the former.

For years, motorcycling remained a dream rather than a reality. But on Valentine’s Day 2021, Prince finally made it happen, swinging her leg over a bike for the very first time. Most people spend Valentine’s Day with chocolates and regrettable text messages; Prince spent hers beginning what would become a wildly accelerated racing career. By April 2022—barely fourteen months after that first ride—she had her racing license in hand. It’s the kind of timeline that makes seasoned racers do a double-take.

OTHER INTERESTS

In the pits, Prince has cultivated a reputation for pre-race rituals that keep things decidedly un-serious. She dances before every race “to keep the vibes up”—because nothing says race-ready like busting a move in your leathers. She’s also known for “squishing all the puppies” (she assures everyone she’s a professional at this), and distributing high-fives and fist-bumps with the generosity of someone handing out candy on Halloween. It’s the kind of energy that makes paddock life considerably more fun.

EARLY SUCCESS

Prince credits her rapid development to Southern California’s motorcycle communities, where friendships, mentors, and coaches took her raw abilities and honed them into something genuinely competitive. Her debut seasons in CVMA and CRA in 2022 weren’t just learning experiences—they were statement-making performances. She racked up multiple class wins and podium finishes, ultimately claiming second place overall in both the Femmewalla Ultralightweight class and the Amateur Supersport 500 class. Not bad for someone who’d been riding for roughly a year.

In Spring 2023, Prince was selected for Royal Enfield’s prestigious Build. Train. Race program—a competitive opportunity that pairs talented riders with top-tier mentorship and factory-backed machinery. Under the guidance of none other than “Fast Freddie” Spencer, the three-time Grand Prix World Champion, she transformed a Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 into a proper race machine. The program clearly saw something special, because they invited her back for 2024.

Her 2024 BTR campaign included rounds at Barber Motorsports Park in May, Road America in June, Ridge Motorsports Park in June, and Mid-Ohio in August. At The Ridge in June 2024, Prince delivered what she’d later describe as her best effort to date. Starting from the back of the grid thanks to a rear tire warmer malfunction—because racing gods demand occasional tribulations—she fought her way to second place in Race One, earning her first MotoAmerica podium. Her best lap of 2:04.845 was the third-fastest of the day, less than a second off the second-best time. It was the kind of performance that announces you’ve arrived on the national stage.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2022: Second place overall, CVMA/CRA Femmewalla Ultralightweight class
• 2022: Second place overall, CVMA/CRA Amateur Supersport 500 class
• 2022: Multiple class wins and podium finishes in debut CVMA and CRA seasons
• 2023: Selected for Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race program
• 2024: Invited back as returning rider to Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race program
• 2024: Second place, Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race Race One, The Ridge Motorsports Park (first MotoAmerica podium)

INSPIRATIONS

Prince’s thrill-seeking uncle planted the seeds early, encouraging her to embrace speed and risk with his “Ride Like the Wind” philosophy. When she finally made the leap into racing, Southern California’s motorcycle communities became her support network—the friendships, mentors, and coaches who saw her potential and helped refine it.

Working with “Fast Freddie” Spencer through the Royal Enfield BTR program gave her access to world-class expertise. Spencer’s three Grand Prix World Championships weren’t earned by accident, and having that level of knowledge in your corner tends to accelerate development in ways that are hard to quantify but impossible to ignore.

REPUTATION

Prince has built a reputation as a fierce competitor on the MotoAmerica stage, combining natural talent with an impressive work ethic. Her journey from complete novice to national-level podium finisher in three years speaks to both her abilities and her commitment. The merger of skills, hard work, and raw talent has made her someone to watch in the lightweight classes.

She’s also known for being genuinely grateful for the people who’ve helped her along the way, regularly crediting the friendships and mentorship that have shaped her racing career. In a sport that can sometimes take itself painfully seriously, her pre-race dancing and puppy-squishing antics provide a refreshing reminder that racing should also be fun.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Prince is focused on improving her on-track performances and maximizing what she can learn competing at the MotoAmerica level. Beyond her own racing, she’s committed to supporting her teammates and coaching at local tracks—giving back to the communities that helped launch her own career. It’s the kind of full-circle moment that suggests she understands racing isn’t just about personal achievement, but about building up the next generation of riders who might be exactly where she was just a few years ago.

References:

Tip In Racing – Rider Profile
Cycle News – 2024 The Ridge Race Report
Ultimate Motorcycling – Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race Program Feature
Road Runner – 2024 BTR Roster Announcement