JONES REPLACES RECOVERING O’HALLORAN AT OULTON PARK FOR HM PLANT HONDA
Former British 125GP champion Luke Jones will deputise for Jason O’Halloran in the seventh round of the National Superstock 1000 Championship round at Oulton Park for HM Plant Honda, as the Australian continues to recover from the injuries he sustained in a crash at Knockhill.
O’Halloran was involved in a multi-rider incident in the Knockhill race when he crashed out at turn one, leaving him with a broken left leg just above the ankle and, he also underwent operations to remove his spleen and repair a tear in his bladder. The former Australian Supersport champion remains in Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline and had an operation on his leg on Monday. He is expected to be transferred to a hospital nearer to his home near the team’s base in Lincolnshire during the forthcoming week.
Jones currently leads the Triumph Triple Challenge and won the British 125GP Championship in 2007, narrowly missed out on the Junior Superstock title finishing runner up in 2009.
Jones said: “You never want another rider to be injured and I hope Jason makes a speedy recovery. I am really excited to be offered a chance to be part of the HM Plant Honda team; they have so much experience across the different championships and the Fireblade is possibly the best package out there, so I can’t wait until Oulton Park. The Superstock 1000 class is the only one at BSB that I haven’t yet experienced, but I have raced against some of the riders already so I am looking forward to it. I am aiming for a strong top ten finish and I want to thank the HM Plant Honda team for giving me this opportunity whilst Jason recovers from his injury.”
O’Halloran said: “I am doing much better now and making really good progress so it won’t be too long before I can leave hospital. I had the operation on the broken bone in my leg and now that is in a cast, which will hopefully speed up the healing process. Initially after the crash I had to have my spleen removed and there was a question over one of my kidneys but that didn’t end up being a problem luckily. I had another operation on my bladder and that was when I really felt I had turned a corner. I haven’t set a goal yet of when I will be coming back; I want to try and get healthy and then look at what is achievable. I do want to be back racing with the HM Plant Honda team before the end of the season that’s for sure and I need to thank everyone for their support since the crash, from all the medical staff right through to the well wishers.”
Team Manager Havier Beltran concluded: “It is never an easy decision when you have to replace an injured rider and we are pleased that Jason has really started to make a recovery from his accident at Knockhill now. We know that he won’t be back on the Fireblade for the next few rounds at least so we decided to give the opportunity to a upcoming young British rider. Luke has been impressive so far this season in a one-make series and that should put him in a good starting position to race in the ultra-competitive Superstock class. There is no pressure on him from the team in terms of results and we look forward to him joining us at Oulton Park.”
LUKE JONES BIOGRAPHYDate and place of birth: 23/09/88, HerefordOccupation: Mechanic at motorcycle breakersHobbies: RacingFavourite circuits: Cadwell Park & DoningtonBest racing moment: 2006 – Cadwell Park 1st BSB WinWorst racing moment: 2008 – Breaking collarbone mid-season
RACING HISTORY1998 Rissington Championship (Karting)1999 2nd – Rissington Championship (Karting)2000 1st – Rissington Championship (Karting)2001 1st – Junior Production Indoor Championship (minimoto)2002 2nd – Light Weight Production (minimoto)2002 2nd – 910 Cup Welsh Championship (minimoto)2003 1st – Light Weight Production class in Welsh Championships2003 1st – 910 Cup Welsh Championship2003 1st – Open class in Welsh Championship2003 1st – Super Light Weight Production class in UK Championship2004 10th – MRO Aprilia Superteen Championship2005 1st – MRO Aprilia Superteen Championship2006 7th – GP125 British Championship2007 1st – GP125 British Championship2008 5th – Superstock 600 (although broke collarbone and missed races)2009 3rd – Superstock 600 (five podiums)2010 British Superbike Championship2011 Triumph Triple Challenge
RACING CAREERLuke started his racing career at the age of nine, racing karts. In 2000 he won the Rissington Club Championship and came 2nd in both the Midland and Welsh Kart Championship.
Looking for a further challenge, in 2001 Luke began racing minimotos and he finished with an impressive 1st overall (Junior Production) in the Southern Indoor Minimoto Championships. The following year yielded two 2nd overall results in both the Welsh 910 Cup and the Southern Indoor Championship (Lightweight Production). In 2003, Luke finished 1st overall in the Welsh (Lightweight Production) 910 Cuo and 1st in the UK (Super Lightweight) Minimoto Championship.
Coming from a family with a strong history of motorcycle racing, in 2004 Luke made his motorcycle racing debut with a 12th overall position in the 125cc BEMSEE Club Championship and 10th position in the MRO British Superteen Championship (Aprilia Production).
In 2005 he won the MRO British Superteen Championship (Aprilia Production 125cc).
Entering the British 125GP series in 2006 saw his first race win in this category at Cadwell Park, finishing 7th overall in the season.
2007 saw Luke with three race wins at Silverstone and Oulton Park, and with that it makes eleven consecutive podium finishes. In this year he has won the British 125GP Championships with one round remaining. One of the biggest highlights of the year was a wild card ride in the Moto GP at Donnington which resulted in 22nd position and a fabulous opportunity to race in an international field. Adding to his success, Luke was voted Hereford Sportsman of the Year.
In 2008, after an impressive start to the season – 3 wins and 2 lap records – Luke was leading the championship. However, an unfortunate crash while testing at Knockhill resulted in a broken collarbone and left Luke unable to ride at two rounds. Luke returned to the championship with 4 rounds to go and achieved 2 pole positions, one win and one lap record. He finished 5th overall.
Eight races into the 2009 season saw Luke with 5 podium finishes and 3rd in the overall championship, only one point off second place.
2010 was a big move up to British Superbikes, again on a Yamaha but this time a R1 Superbike (200bhp plus) for the P.R. Team. After only one real test on the bike previously, Luke scored points at his first meeting taking the team to their best ever result of 12th!! He then continued to suffer from major arm pump. Luke went to Belgium for an operation, returning to race at Knockhill. He finished 16th in the wet, qualifying for a 11th place start on the grid for race two, which unfortunately was then cancelled due to bad weather with Luke in 8th place when the flags came out. His season was the unfortunately cut short due to lack of funding.
