KEY POINTS:
It's official, Ken Jones is a fully-fledged boy racer.
Well, not exactly. It may be a contradiction in terms but Cambridge Yamaha rider Jones is a motorcycle racing champion with an L-plate.
The 16-year-old is one of New Zealand's fastest up-and-coming motorcycle road-racers and his recent progress augurs well for his national championship campaign this season.
But there's one thing slowing him down. He doesn't have a driver's licence yet.
He is on a learner's licence, which means he is not allowed to ride the bigger bikes, not allowed to exceed 70kmph on the open road and there's a strict curfew too on when he's allowed out on the road.
Yamaha recently gave him one of their new 225cc Scorpio Z commuter bikes to get around on. Yamaha New Zealand sales manager Peter Payne says it is capable of motorway speeds and is a strong and reliable bike.
"It is very annoying, and dangerous too, to have to keep under 70kmph," said the talented sportsman, who raced a Yamaha TZ125M to victory in the 125GP class at the Victoria Motorcycle Club's winter series.
"I think the legal restriction on me is a bit silly because it can be dangerous being on the open road and only being allowed to go 70kph."
After testing at Pukekohe Raceway, Jones and his team-mate on the Yamaha Junior Development Team, 13-year-old Western Springs College third-former Jaden Hassan, made huge steps forward in preparation for their 125GP class campaign at the upcoming New Zealand Road-race Championships.
The five-round nationals kick off at Christchurch's Ruapuna Raceway on January 12-13, with rounds to follow at Timaru (Levels), Invercargill (Teretonga), Feilding (Manfeild) and Pukekohe.
