In Memory of Chris Jones
Chris Jones
This website is created in the memory of Christopher Anthony Jones born on Tuesday 13th November 1990 and who sadly passed away on Tuesday 30th August 2005 aged 14 years of age.
Christopher was critically injured in a tragic motorbike accident on Monday 29th August 2005 at Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire, whilst attempting to begin the British 125cc Championship race.
He was air lifted to hospital from the course but later died from his injuries the following day. Christopher was a very active young man and was always competing in some sort of sport, but for him motorbikes were his 'True Love'. This, a sport a flourished in naturally and within his short life he achieved some fantastic results and was surely going to be one of the top riders in the country and the World. Sadly this wasn’t to be; as his life was cut short in what he loved doing the most.
This website and the CJ Riders Fund have been set up in Christopher’s memory and to help the current British racers in the aim of achieving their dreams in which Christopher was so sadly unable to do.
The loss of Christopher will never be forgotten and this website will remember him for what he achieved in such a short life span. He was loved by everybody but no more than by his parents Pam & Clive and his younger sister Lucy.
God Bless.
Tribute to Chris Jones, by Eugene Laverty
The first time I met Chris Jones he was a quiet 14 year old kid. I was asked to go to Mallory Park to help select the new Red Bull Rookie who would take over from me in the 125 class as I was stepping up to the supersport series. Right from the off it was Chris who caught my eye out on track. I couldn’t believe how natural he was on the bike, a little GP rider I thought. The only apprehension the judging panel had was that Chris said he wanted to enter 125GPs in the future and not British Supersport as the team had planned. My point was that whatever the kid wished to do in future, the team couldn’t possibly let a talent like his slip through their fingers. I told them if they were to select another rider Chris would only turn up and kick their ass the following year!
And so Johnny Rea and I had ourselves a new teammate in Chris Jones. The team was headed to Spain for a few days testing that week so the 125 was put in the truck and Chris joined us on track for the final day. He stunned absolutely everyone, including the Derbi 125GP team who were also testing there. Almeria is no easy circuit to learn but within 40 laps Chris’ pace was that of a few of the GP runners who were in their third day at the circuit! An impressive debut to say the least.
At the time of Chris’ death he’d really hit form and had brought himself back into title contention. He’d lapped some circuits 1-2 seconds quicker than I’d done on the same bike the previous year! Needless to say I believed he would go all the way to the top. At 14 he had the world at his feet. Although I was more than four years older than him we got on like a house on fire. In some ways he was like a little brother to me. When I watched him on track I cared for him in a similar way to my brothers Michael and John. The devastating news took a few days to sink in but when it did it hit hard. I’d never lost anyone close to me before and I can’t even begin to imagine what Clive, Pam and Lucy went through.
My favourite memory of Chris was from preseason testing out in Spain. The final day’s testing had been called off due to snow so rather than hang around the desolate area of Guadix we switched hotel and headed to the city of Almeria instead. We arrived at our hotel in the afternoon and got set on playing poker in my room for the following five hours. There were a load of us playing and it was great craic. Every hour or so Chris would run out of money so he’d run downstairs to get more off his dad! He didn’t want to miss out on the fun. Then one by one people headed back to their rooms to get ready for the night out. In the end there were three of us left, my mechanic Brains, me, and Chris. Chris hadn’t the slightest idea of what bluffing was and Brains was about to teach him a lesson! You knew when Chris had been dealt a good hand as you’d see his eyes light up, a smile come across his face and he’d let out an “ooohh” or a “yes!!” Time and time again he’d have a winning hand but Brains would bluff his way with a duff hand throwing more and more money into the kitty. Each time Brains laid down a twenty Chris would say “Aw no don’t put that in!” and proceed to fold! I was rolling around laughing, he was worried he’d lose it all but didn’t realise how good his hands were. He’d have 4 of a kind and fold to Brains who’d have a Jack high!
Little things like that reminded of us just how young he was, something we’d regularly forget because he was so mature and well mannered. That memory will always stay with me and bring a smile to my face forever more.
