Motor Sport: Craig back on course after raid

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Feb 19, 2006 | by JOHN BROWN

CRAIG JONES'S preparations for his World Superbike Championship debut in Qatar next weekend took a knock when burglars ransacked his home in an overnight raid.

The intruders struck while 21-year-old Craig and his girlfriend Karen were sleeping at his home in the village of Warmington, near Peterborough.

They left with more than pounds 15,000 worth of racing gear and valuables including the treasured Star Wars startrooper's helmet he wore when racing a Triumph in the World Supersport title round at Silverstone last year. Jones said: "I was devastated, I lost two days of fitness training time in the gym while we got to grips with the situation and that's something I didn't need.

"They stole my heartrate monitor, which is crucial to my keep- fit programme at the moment as I am just getting over a bad cold and need to keep within my work-rate safety limits."

But Jones, who leaves for Qatar tomorrow to join experienced Aussie Steve Martin as the rookie in the Foggy Petronas team, is determined to keep focused on the first race of the season.

He added: "Yes, this has affected my build-up for Qatar and that is not ideal. This opportunity to race for a major team at world level will speed up my learning curve and get me closer to my goal of MotoGP.

"This ambition could well come to fruition in the near future as I will be talking to a MotoGP team before the end of the year. This is a realistic time for me to make a move into the premier league."

Carl Fogarty, four-time superbike world champion and Foggy Petronas boss, is upbeat about his team's chances in this year's 14- round series that takes in Brands Hatch and Silverstone. He said: "The riders have done well in pre-season tests and the bike is much better than last season. As far as the other teams are concerned, we have caught up a bit and hopefully we will get respectable results."

Foggy believes it could be a make-or-break year for James Toseland, the rider from Sheffield who took the title in 2004 on a Ducati but slumped to fifth place last year.

Fogarty added: "I'm pleased he has stayed in WSBK and pleased he has switched to a different team [Winston Ten Kate Honda].

"It's a big year because if it doesn't work out he will find himself back in British national racing. I hope he can rediscover what he is capable of doing."

Foggy reckons it could be one of the toughest superbike contests in years but rates the chances of Troy Corser, his former bitter track rival and the rider to lead his team in its inaugural 2003 season, of retaining the title.

He said: "He's smooth and consistent and the Suzuki he races is probably better than the Hondas and Ducatis he will be up against."