Starting from his first ever WSS pole, Jones led confidently for much of the race - despite being caught by world champion
Kenan Sofuoglu. The Turkish Ten Kate Honda star finally took the lead on lap 17, but a 'relaxed' Jones stuck with him and was planning his retaliation when the red flags were suddenly raised due to oil on the track.
"I got off the line pretty well, through the first corner leading, had a safe first lap and then I really started to push hard," Jones told
Crash.net Radio. "I started to pull away quite quickly, which surprised me because Kenan had shown a really good pace in qualifying and practice, so when I saw my advantage coming back down again I knew it could only be one person.
"My guys were signalling me really well, so I knew it was just one guy coming after me and not a group. I wasn't so worried then; it was going to be a one-on-one battle and I was up for it. I had a quick look over my shoulder and saw that it was Kenan.
"When Kenan came past me I could just relax. I thought 'five laps to go, I'll wait until two laps to go and then decide whether to go for it then or leave it until the last lap'. I followed him for half a lap - and that half a lap that he led gave him the win.
"I am gutted, but it was a good race," said Jones. "We've shown our pace and what the team is capable off. I was comfortable following Kenan, I'm sure he wasn't going to pull away from me - I was just ready for it really. I wasn't going to risk it all as it's important to have a good championship position. The top five might be possible.
"I'd like to thank all my guys for the hard work they've done all year. We've also done a good job for our new sponsor. They've come on board this weekend. Watch out Magny Cours!" he declared.
Jones' second runner-up finish of the season has placed him seventh in the riders' championship, but just six points from fifth, heading into Sunday's Magny Cours finale.
