A MEMORIAL fund set up following the death of teenage motorcyclist Chris Jones has hit the £70,000 mark - and the fund-raising will not stop there.

The new year sees more and more events being held at race meetings across the country in Chris' memory.

The teenage racer's parents, Pam and Clive, who have bravely continued to run their motorcycle business in Droitwich, hope to officially launch the fund to the racing and industry community.

Fourteen-year-old Chris, who regularly featured in the Worcester News sports pages, was killed at the start of a race on Bank Holiday Monday, August 2005.

The rising star was in-volved in a nine-bike collision at the starting line of the tenth round of the British 125GP Champion-ship at Cadwell Park. He stalled his bike as the starting signal went out and was hit several times from behind.

The former Droitwich Spa High School pupil was one of the brightest emerging talents in the sport and had already demonstrated his huge potential by winning the 2004 MRO 125GP Cham-pionship. Pam and Clive, who own CJ Motorcycles and Scooter dealers in Colman Road, Droitwich, set up the Chris Jones Memorial Fund along with family friend Steve Brookes. It is hoped continued fund-raising in 2007 will help the fund reach £100,000 to purchase a mobile X-ray unit. The hi-tech equipment would allow medics to assess rider injuries and provide immediate diagnosis of fractures at track-side, which would also provide accurate details for hospitals.

Mrs Jones said: "The fund has only been going for just over a year and has already raised that kind of money. It is really positive that the fund is doing so well. We will continue to have events throughout the country."

The next event will be a raffle held at James Toseland's Crash In Con-cert on Saturday, January 20, at the Gilt Edge Leisure Centre, Zortech Avenue, Oldington, Kidderminster. The event, which will run from 7.30pm onwards and costs £10 per ticket, will feature stars from Moto GP, WSB and BSB.

All proceeds will go to the Chris Jones Memorial Fund with a donation also being made to the County Air Ambulance.

Donations to the fund can be made by cheque to the Chris Jones Memorial Fund and posted to Steve Br-ookes, 44 Blackmoor Cres-cent, Brinsworth, Rother-ham, South Yorkshire, S60 5AS. Steve can also be called on 01709 721906.