Jones says Team BOC's peaked perfectly
16/8/2004 12:25 (Press Release) -
Team BOC’s Andrew Jones has staked his claim on the 2004 Konica Minolta V8 Supercar Championship by saying that both himself and the team have peaked at the right end of the season.
With the final round of 2004 on this weekend at Adelaide’s Mallala Raceway, the title is up for grabs with Jones just ten points behind current leader Luke Youlden and fellow Ford driver, Owen Kelly lurking closely behind in third.
“Basically, which ever one of us [three drivers] that wins the round at Mallala will win the championship. It’s come right down to the wire which is great for the series and exciting to be apart of,” said Jones.
“We’re ready to go ! We’ve sorted out the problems that plagued us at the start of the season and I think it’s fair to say that Team BOC has been the standout performer over the last three rounds. Four rounds ago we were outside the top ten in the championship, now we’re second.”
Leading into what will be the most important event of his career, Jones is in an aggressive mood and feels the pendulum has swung his way.
“The momentum is definitely behind us and our form has come together at exactly the right time. We know that we are going to need both of these to win but we’re confident and we’ll have the advantage of being able to attack from the minute we get on the track.”
The young driver from Albury has taken no chances in preparing for the big encounter. Jones has deliberately moved himself out of his training comfort zone, strengthening himself both physically and mentally with a demanding schedule.
His normal mid afternoon push bike ride has been replaced by a gruelling and bitterly cold early morning and late evening regime.
“To toughen myself up I’ve been driving myself to ride at the coldest parts of the day. Albury can be freezing in the morning and evening, so that’s when I’ve been saddling up. And instead of a 50 kilometre ride, I’ve been doing up to 150k’s,” Jones concluded.
The grand finale of the 2004 Konica Minolta V8 Supercar Championship gets underway this weekend at Mallala Raceway, with Saturday hosting practice and qualifying and three action packed races on Sunday. The northern Adelaide circuit will see the crowning of V8 Supercars first champion of 2004.
|
|
