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Funeral of bike superstar Craig Jones
The funeral of Craig Jones, a 23-year-old superbike rider with the potential to be world champion, took place on Monday (August 18).
The funeral of Craig Jones, a 23-year-old superbike rider with the potential to be world champion, took place on Monday (August 18).Five hundred mourners, including stars from the sport, packing Fotheringhay's Church of St Mary and All Saints, after he died in a horrific high-speed crash at Brands Hatch earlier this month.
A shining star of the motorbike racing world, he lived his life in the fast lane.
But on a sun-dappled day, it was a peaceful village far from the high-octane glitz of the race track where Craig Jones made his final journey.
Sporting legends such as former world superbike champion Carl Fogarty were among 500 mourners who made the pilgrimage to the stunning Church of St Mary and All Saints, in Fotheringhay, near Oundle, to pay their respects.
The 23-year-old, from the nearby village of Warmington, died after a horrific high-speed crash at Brands Hatch on Sunday, August 3.
And to prove just how many people from all walks of life Craig had touched, leather-clad bikers with heads bowed and helmets tucked under their arms, mingled with sports stars, fans and his devastated family and friends at the funeral service.
Just the wind through the trees and an occasional rev from a motorbike punctuated the silence outside the church.
A poem for Craig Jones: 'The Race Is Over' by Cassie Jones.
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But when his coffin – painted in red and white like the cross of St George and with his number 18 on the side – appeared, many of the mourners lining the route to the church couldn't contain their grief any longer and broke down in tears.
His family, including father Steve (47), mother Yvonne (48), his two sisters, Kirsty (29) and Cassie (20), and girlfriend Karen Atkins (33) looked distraught as they followed the procession.
Inside the church, the coffin, covered with white blooms spelling out "Bro" was placed on the bier to strains of George Michael's Amazing – with, poignantly, his gleaming motorbike standing alongside it.
Dozens of people stood in the entrance of the church and on the path to listen to the service on the sound system because of the sheer number of people inside.
Between hymns, including Light Up The fire and All Things Bright And Beautiful, were heartbreakingly personal tributes from his loved ones.
First to take the stand was friend Keith Huewen, who recalled his favourite "Jonesy moments" and revealed how much the flood of support from well-wishers had meant to his family.
He said: "It's a clich, but I still expect him to call up and walk through the door. It is hard to believe he was only 23.
"He was a normal kid and easy-going and an amazingly natural talent on the bike.
"He touched the hearts not just of racing fans, but everyone.
"We hoped one day to celebrate with him as world champion.
"The realisation that his potential has been lost forever is perhaps the most difficult fact to come to terms with.
"It has been very hard for his friends – every day brings another reminder.
"But there were some great Jonesy moments.
"Craig's appeal was incredible – 16 and 60-year-old girls loved him.
"He will never be replaced, but we will always remember him as fit, fast and fun. He will be forever young in our hearts.
"He will always be a shining star.
"The turnout today shows just how many people loved Craig. He was the only one who didn't realise it. Until now."His manager of four years, Steve Chick, said he had no doubt Craig would have one day lifted the world championship title.
He said: "He was a wonderful sportsman. Already, he had achieved so much and touched so many people and still had far to go.
"It was obvious to me how completely special he was.
"He was so confident and very tenacious.
"He was the most positive person I have ever met.
"He saw the best in everybody. He was polite, charming, very funny, caring, as well as outrageously talented on his bike.
"He didn't act like a 21-year-old rookie when he started out. He behaved confidently, like a world champion from day one.
"It was not arrogance, just enormous self-belief.
"Craig on the race track was fast, professional and uncompromising, not to mention spectacular – exactly as you would expect a future world champion to be.
"He loved his family, who had given him the opportunity to be the superstar he was.
"He and Karen made a great team."
He added: "He would say, 'Let's meet up and make a plan.' That's what I can hear now. He was ever optimistic. I can imagine him saying now, 'Let's make a plan to get out of this.' Knowing his abilities, I almost believe he could."
A poem written by Craig's sister Cassie (20) was sprinkled with treasured memories, such as when he bought her a prom dress and strummed on his air guitar.
Called The Race Is Over, the final emotion-charged verse, read by Doris Valentine, said: "The race is over now my brother/But your memory will be replaced by no other/Stay young and brave wearing your leathers/ Goodbye for now my big brother, but not forever."
As his coffin emerged from the 15th-century church, spontaneous applause broke out outside.
But then silence fell again, with just the sound of a flag of St George tied to the church gates fluttering in the wind.
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