A 23-YEAR-OLD Cheshire motorbike racer, tipped as a future world champion, died in hospital yesterday after he fell from his bike and was hit by another rider during a race.

Craig Jones, originally from Northwich, fell from his Team Parkalgar CBR600 Honda bike at Clark Curve at Brands Hatch on Sunday, and was struck by a following rider as he challenged for the lead in the British Round of the World Supersport Championshipat the track in Kent.

The race was stopped and Mr Jones was treated at the track before he was airlifted to hospital with a head wound.

He died yesterday at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel with his family by his side, according to the team he raced for, Parkalgar Honda.

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda team manager, said a corner at a new race track being built in the Algarve in Portugal would be named after Jones following a request from his family.

Mr Buckmaster said: "Craig’s dad Steve is obviously very upset but he called me. He wanted to thank everyone for everything they have done.

"We all know the risks. Safety measures and technology have improved in racing but it does still happen."

Mr Buckmaster said Jones, who had moved to Warmington, Peterborough, joined the Parkalgar Honda team this year, would have been a world champion.

He said: "It’s obviously very sad. Craig was a great guy and a great rider. He was a genuine person. It is a big loss to sport.

"The family have asked to name a corner after him at the track being built by the company in the Algarve, Portugal, and I can say today that it will happen. The final round of the World Championship is due to be held there on November 2.

"It is with great sadness that we learned Craig passed away in the early hours. The team’s thoughts are with Craig’s family and friends at this very difficult time. Craig’s family passes on its thanks to all well wishers."

A spokeswoman for the Kent Air Ambulance Trust confirmed they were called to reports of an injured man at Brands Hatch at 3pm on Sunday.

The spokeswoman said: "The Brands Hatch medical team was there. The transfer time to the hospital was 10 minutes. We transferred a 23-year-old male with serious head injuries."

A statement released by MotorSport Vision, the company that owns Brands Hatch, said: "Craig Jones, aged 23 from Northwich, Cheshire, has died in hospital as a result of a serious head injury sustained in an accident during yesterday’s FIM Supersport World Championship race at Brands Hatch.

"It appeared that he lost control and fell from his Team Parkalgar CBR600 Honda at Clark Curve and was immediately and unavoidably struck by a following rider.

"Immediate expert medical attention was provided and Craig was then flown by the Kent Air Ambulance to the Royal London Hospital where further assessment and treatment continued. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of this morning."

In the statement, Jonathan Palmer, chief executive of Brands Hatch owner MotorSport Vision, said: "Britain has lost a wonderful rider whom I admired enormously and had every chance of being a future world champion."

"It is fitting that the abiding memory so many of us will have of Craig was him riding brilliantly, battling for the lead of an incredible race, in front of his home crowd. It seems barely believable that such a freak accident claimed his life and I extend my deepest sympathies to his family and friends."

During his career, Jones won the 1996 British Junior Mini-Moto Championship, the 1997 British Senior Mini-Moto Championship, 2002 British Junior Superstock Championship and numerous race victories and awards, according to a tribute on the Parkalgar Honda website,

In 2005 he finished runner-up in the British Supersport Championship before moving to the World Superbike Championship for 2006. In 2007 he finished fifth in the World Supersport Championship.

In 2008 he was a regular podium finisher and contender for race wins and among favourites for the Championship title, the tribute said.