Mar 14 2009

Parkalgar Honda get first win in Qatar

Category: Racing, fallen heros — mark @ 5:01 pm
Image from http://www.parkalgar-honda.com/

Image from http://www.parkalgar-honda.com/

Eugene Laverty and the Parkalgar Honda World Supersport team, who joined forces for the 2009 season determined to achieve success following the tragic loss of Craig Jones at Brands Hatch last year, were finally able to celebrate the teams first victory today following a thrilling dice at the Losail circuit near Doha, Qatar.

Laverty, who made a great start and got away at the start with the front runners, looked at one stage to have been bested by the Hanspree Ten Kate Honda duo of Kenan Sofuoğlu
and Andrew Pitt. A mistake by Sofuoğlu however let Pitt and Laverty by, and Laverty was the faster man on the home straight, outdragging a determined Andrew Pitt to take the win.

Both Laverty and his team were elated to take their inaugural victory. Laverty dedicated the win to Craig Jones, citing his work wit hthe team during the 2008 season ans having got Parkalgar Honda much of the way towards the success they now enjoy.

Laverty now lies 3rd in the World Supersport Chamoionship standings, and will look forward to continuing this excellent form to the next round at Valencia.

Fellow British rider and great friend of the late Craig Jones, Cal Crutchlow, also chalked up his first podium finish of the season, capitalising on a late mistake by Sofuoğlu, and having to make a save of his own during the pass, to finish an excellent 3rd, having dropped back and having to make up a lot of ground late in the race.

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Aug 04 2008

Craig Jones loses life after Brands Hatch crash

Category: Racing, Sport, fallen heros — mark @ 10:16 am

 

Picture courtesy of Crash.Net

Masthead Photo: crash.net

Craig Jones, who rode for Parkalgar Honda, based not 100 yards up the road from where I work, has died from his injuries after falling during the Brands Hatch round of the World Supersport series. It’s always immensely sad to lose a rider in any race, but Craig’s death is one I find particularly hard to swallow. Craig was a young man who gave every ounce to his racing. A friendly, likable and determined character, who was as great off the track as he was on it.

I’ve followed Craig through his career for years, from his days as a British Supersport rider aboard the Valmoto Triumph, through his time at Northpoint Honda, his rather frustrating season with Foggy Petronas in World Superbike, and his recent exploits in the World Supersport series aboard a privately run Honda. Wherever he went and whatever he did, Jonsey never gave up and never gave quarter, he rode to the limit, and occasionally over it, but his talent and determination have never been in doubt.

As a mark of this, it was fighting hard for the lead of the Brands Hatch race with fellow Brit Jonathon Rea, despite Rea being on a faster factory Honda bike, that Craig lost control of his Parkalgar Honda, falling and being struck by a following rider. The race was halted immediately and Craig was treated trackside, and flown straight to the Royal London Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of this morning.

Craig Jones will be sadly missed by myself and everyone else that knew him, followed him and supported him. My deepest sympathies at this time are with his family, his girlfriend, his friends and his colleagues at Parkalgar Honda.

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