Kenneth (Ken) Jones

[marty]

A few years ago this kid was in my 6, 7 and 8 year olds rugby team, and has gone through school with my son. A really nice kid, who doesn't have much money behind him ('i only had enough gas for one race!) - but obviously some talent! His parents are not wealthy, but very supportive. He's having to work 2 jobs and pay his own way. At 16 that's a big ask!

When I was 16 I was in a similar situation with my sport, and I made choices that took me away from it into full time work. I kinda regret that now, so I support a couple of kids when I can (including my own of course!)

I wonder if there's a business owner on here that is looking for a different way to advertise? It's all budgetable and tax-writeable-off.......

http://www.nzmotorsport.co.nz/content/newsarticle.cfm?id=12272

http://www.fastkiwi.co.nz/85583/html/page.html

[crashe]

Wow what an achievement........ working his way to earn the dollars to pay for his sport that he loves and he is only 16 years old.
Ken's parents must be so proud of him.

I hope that there is someone out there that will sponser him......
It is nice to see young and upcoming racers in New Zealand.


Marty, can you get him to join KB and then he can keep us updated on his track and race days. So that we can follow his achievements.

[marty]

I'll catch up with him when school starts again.

[quallman1234]

Ken's a really nice guy, And defeintely deserves some sponsership in one way or another. :niceone:

[Shaun]

Good on ya Marty! Push as hard as you can for him man, he is deffinately worth promotion:rockon:

[Romeo]

Yeah, good guy! I was just browsing around the tents at Ruapuna the other weekend and grabbed one of his posters. He was midway through suiting up and still came over to offer to sign it for me, legend! It's on my wall as we speak :].

Now we play the "future MotoGP legend" waiting game ;P.

[xr-rider]

It would be stupid for someone not to sponsor him. He has the talent, he won the 125gp class in the vic club series. he is going to do well with sponsorship, he is the next casey stoner.

[gav]

The next Casey Stoner? :shutup:
Actually we're rather proud of our own Jones boy, youngster Cameron Jones (no relation!) and only 15! He's won 5 out of 6 races, finishing second in the other!
Good to see these young guys out there!

[sAsLEX]

The next Casey Stoner? :shutup:
Actually we're rather proud of our own Jones boy, youngster Cameron Jones (no relation!) and only 15! He's won 5 out of 6 races, finishing second in the other!
Good to see these young guys out there!

And he comes from good stock with his Brother Dom racing in the AMA series

[SHELRACING]

We have known young Kenny since he couldn't even get a car licence ( he was only 14) to come from Cambridge to Auckland for the bucket meets.
He worked before and after school to pay for the bike and pay for the gas for his uncle to drive him up here. He saved very hard to buy a ute to get up here at 15.
I watched him chasing the fastest boys at Mt Wgtn (Carl Morgan, Gary Cunningham, Dave Manuel) in the 2hr in 06, he was doing a fine job of being right on their tails. He has a style of riding a bucket the same as Hayden Fitzgerald too. That's gotta be good.
Young Kenneth is remarkable and has a drive to race motorbikes that I have not seen for a while. In the face of all hardship he's never quit the riding.
He's not at school any longer. He had to get a fulltime job (he's an apprentice carpenter) plus another part-time one so he can race the 125GP series.

If anyone out there could offer him sponsorship or even a better paid job than $8.50 per hr, it would help him heaps.
I agree that he could be the next Casey Stoner, he has the talent and the ambition to do it.
:yes:

[marty]

Cheers for that ups SHEL. Kenneth certainly has not had the big bucks of a construction company family or anything like that to help him up. I am making a few enquiries here in Cambridge but if there is anyone else that could help him I know it wouldbe worth it.

[Jonsey]

Hey guys Ken Jones here, thanks so much for your help. As of a update I am currently coming third overall in the championship after a good weekend at timaru and I did some testing at Terotonga today and have improved my personal best time today and looking forward to racing this weekend. if any one would like to contact me for the likes of updates please email me at bucket_racing@xtra.co.nz, this is as we do an email after every event stating how things went and my opinion on it. again thanks heaps for the positive feed back

[Maarty]

Hi everyone,
firstly, cheers to everone for the support you are showing Kenneth.
as the manager of the Yamaha junior development team, I have been exceptionally lucky to have had the riders of the calibre of Kenneth and last year, Gregor Stevens. both these young men are very very talented and both ar very deserving of your support.
Working with Ken this year has been an absolute blast, this 16 year lad had never ridden a real racebike until April and of course the rest is history!
Ken has the oppportunity to compete in Japan later in the year if we can come up with the budget, so any help that can be gained will be greatfully appreciated. Help of this level will require corperate assistance so if anyone has any inside lines then please contact me directly at maarty@vbracing.co.nz or all me anytime on 0274 858413.
This young man is going to go far and he is very deserving. like what has already been written, he is not made of money, neither are mum and dad and his 2 jobs between them mean he is scraping through by the skin of his teeth.
it would be great to see a NZ company come to the party but i guess it is just a waiting game at this stage. we are trying very hard to get him there.
Thanks again fr your interest and look forward to seeing you at the track, come and say hi and make yourselves known to us.
Regards to everyone,

Maarty van Booma
Team Manager
Yamaha Junior Development Team

[SHELRACING]

Hey guys Ken Jones here, thanks so much for your help. As of a update I am currently coming third overall in the championship after a good weekend at timaru and I did some testing at Terotonga today and have improved my personal best time today and looking forward to racing this weekend. if any one would like to contact me for the likes of updates please email me at bucket_racing@xtra.co.nz, this is as we do an email after every event stating how things went and my opinion on it. again thanks heaps for the positive feed back

Hey Kenny,
How's things going? We miss you at buckets you know!
John always mentions you and Avalon at the briefings.
Yeah, I guess you two do leave an impression!:bleh: :laugh:
Hope things go well at the next meet on the TZ.
DONT FALL OFF, ok.
We just went to see that movie 'I Am Legend' staring Will Smith.
Arggh, what a scary movie. I dont want to be out after dark anymore.
catch ya later.
Ellen and Steve.