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Craig Jones at the Monza World Supersport round

© Raceline Photography
By blue2bikes May 28 2008
Craig Jones came away from the last round of the Supersport World Championship at Monza, Italy, with a well-deserved sixth place but also a broken hand. He fell in the free practice session, breaking the fifth metatarsal in his left hand in the incident.

The top class medical team at the mobile clinic got to work on Craig’s hand and, along with Craig’s sheer determination, he was able enough to compete in the race and gain a finishing position of sixth.

Craig said after the race, “It wasn’t so much the pain it was the lack of feel with my hand on the bars.  To come away not only in the points but with a sixth place finish, I am pleased with the result.”

Two weeks later and Craig was due to race as a wild-card entry in the British Supersport race at Donington Park, which was held over the Bank Holiday Monday on 26th May.

During the free-practice on Saturday, and after holding discussions with team manager Simon Buckmaster, it was decided that Craig’s hand was still causing too many problems for him to be able enough to compete, or in fact carry on with any more practice sessions.

Talking with Simon on race-day, Simon had this to say, “It was a joint decision for myself and Craig that to continue with any further practice sessions, and indeed race, would cause too many problems.  Not only for Craig but with the World Supersports still in the early stages, which is our prime target for winning, we didn’t want to put extra pressure on Craig’s hand and exacerbate the problem.  Craig has a willingness to win that stands him well, but to give him the extra problem of racing here this weekend as a wild-card entry would have been foolish.”

Craig was obviously disappointed in not being fit enough to race at Donington Park.  Not only were there high winds to compete against, but the inclement wet weather on Saturday’s qualifying was extreme.  High winds continued throughout the race day on Monday and, talking to Craig during the morning qualifying, he said, “I am disappointed not to be out there on track with all the other guys and qualifying for a front position.

“All my fans from my British Supersport days are here to cheer me on, but to have proceeded with racing I would have been putting to much pressure on my hand and causing even more damage.  I went out on Saturday and did 12 laps of the track and knew then that to compete would have been foolish, for myself and for the Parkalgar Team - if I had fallen and damaged my hand even more.

“Our main aim is to win the Supersports Championship this year, and to put that in jeopardy would not have been right.  At least we can leave here with some good track information for our bike set up when we return here later in the year.  After discussions with Simon it was decided that I would withdraw from the race and rest the hand in readiness for the next round on the 15th June, at the Nürburgring in Germany.

“I have still been meeting with the fans all weekend, and will still be on hand to help my team-mate Miguel Praia over the weekend.  Donington Park is a great circuit and requires precision, so i can help Miguel with his settings today.  I would like to thank all the fans that turned up here to see me race, and I am sorry to disappoint them all, but I will certainly be back here later on in the year to give them something to cheer about.”

Craig was looking fitter than ever and his hand, although looking good, was giving him problems with the icy cold wind blowing down the paddock.  He will certainly be on form when he returns for the British round of the series at Brands Hatch, on 3rd August 2008.

 

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