Starting from his first ever WS🌠S 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 f🍌lags 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 ltxcn.top Radio. "I started to pull away quite quickly, which surprised me because Kenan had shown a really good pace in qualifying and pract♌ice, 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 an﷽d 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 f🐼ollowing Kenan, I'm sure he wasn't going to pull away from me - I was jusꦬt 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 Magꩵny Cours!" he declared.

🃏Jones' second runner-up finish of the season has placed him se😼venth in the riders' championship, but just six points from fifth, heading into Sunday's Magny Cours finale.