A FOURTEEN-year-old school boy and motorcycle star has died after crashing at a race in Lincolnshire on Bank Holiday Monday.

Chris Jones, from Stoke Prior, near Bromsgrove, was seriously injured at Cadwell Park racetrack, near Louth, when he took part in round ten of the 125cc British GP Championship.

The collision involved nine bikes as the riders left the starting grid.

Chris, who was a pupil at Droitwich Spa High School, was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary Hospital from the track, just after noon.

A spokeswoman for Lincolnshire Police confirmed he died in hospital yesterday (Tuesday) at 10.30am.

On Sunday Chris, who has regularly featured in the Advertiser/Messenger's sports pages, had been involved in another smash during the second qualifying session at Cadwell.

He suffered a badly-sprained left wrist, but was hopeful for Monday's race.

In an interview on his sponsor's - Honda Red Bull Racing - website, Chris said: "It's a shame about the crash and my injury, but I'm hoping for tomorrow. I've been on the crest of a wave after two race wins and two podium finishes over the past four rounds - but that's racing!"

In his profile on the website, Chris cited Cadwell Park as his favourite track.

Chris' parents, Clive and Pam Jones run CJ Motorcycles and Scooter Centre, in Colman Road in Droitwich Spa.

A sign in the shop window said that it would be closed until further notice and a police spokeswoman said the family were too distraught to make a comment.

Rising star

Chris was a rising star in the motorcycling world and on Sunday, August 21, finished second in round nine of the 125cc British GP Championship at Silverstone.

The podium place put Chris in second place overall and within 21 points of championship leader Christian Elkin.

Johnathan Palmer, chief executive of MotorSport Vision Limited, which manages Cadwell Park, said: "To have a fatality in motorsport is always terribly sad, but for a 14-year-old to lose his life is quite devastating and my thoughts are mainly of course with Chris' family, but also his team and the many friends he had in the motorcycle racing world. Chris was an extremely talented young rider who was surely destined for great future success."

Neil Tuxworth, manager of Honda Red Bull Racing, said: "The whole team is very saddened by the death of Chris Jones and our main concern is for his family and friends at this very difficult time."

Chris' sponsors were talking to his parents before releasing a statement, which was not available as we went to press.

Mr and Mrs Jones were believed to have returned to Stoke Prior yesterday (Tuesday).