The beginning of something new...
Gareth is currently leading the ONK Dutch superbike Championship on the RT Motorsports 2008 Yamaha R1 after rounds 1 & 2. It is his first season in the ONK and he will combine his drive to win a first European title with competing in rounds of the German IDM Superbike championships and the FIM world Superstock championship.Gareth is no stranger to success……..
This likeable 22 year old is the reigning 2009 NZ Supersport Champion winning 9 out of 10 races in the series, he also finished 3rd in the NZ superbike championships on the Bernard Racing Yamaha R1 winning 2 races and completing 9 podium finishes. For good measure he won the 2009 NZ Tri-Series Championship and the New Zealand Grand Prix for both Superbike and Supersport. It is fair to say he won over the New Zealand public with his flair and quality of riding which is no mean feat for an Aussie from the Gold Coast.
Gareth is in his second season racing in Europe, having contested the 2008 FIM World Superstock 1000 championship as part of the World Superbike tour for MIST Suzuki on a GSXR1000. Gareth finished 17th overall and was 2nd rookie, he also led the field in overtaking (with an average 10 places gained per race) showing that he is a racer to be reckoned with.
Gareth Jones embarked on his official racing career in 2003 aged 16. Despite being the youngest rider in the class, he placed 2nd in the Australian 250cc Production Championship.
Building on his first season, Gareth narrowly finished runner up in the 2004 National Superstock Cup, to his friend and fellow Superbike ace Brendon Roberts, currently riding for the Guadalini Ducati team in the World Superbike championship this year.
In 2005, at the age of 18, Gareth was awarded the inaugural Reece Bancell Scholarship and became the first superstock rider to place in the Top 10 of the Australian Supersport Championship in his first year.
Gareth completed three successful seasons as a privateer in the Australian Supersport Championship culminating in 7th place overall in 2007, in a field dominated by factory teams.
In January 2008 Gareth earned his first works sponsored ride with the Brian Bernard Yamaha Team in the New Zealand Superbike Championship.
Gareth placed 3rd overall in the five race New Zealand Superbike series and in addition won the “King of the Streets” title, winning all three Superbike races at the Paeroa street circuit, setting a new lap record in the process. In addition he finished 2nd at the famous Wanganui Cemetery Circuit (the southern hemisphere’s Isle of Man ). This was particularly remarkable because Gareth was riding a 600cc Supersport bike against his opponents 1000cc Superbikes.
