Jono Jones departed the good ship Propain last year and returned to Saracen Bikes after a decade away, so we chatted with him about the year ahead.
We sat down for a chat with Jono Jones to chat about getting back on the Saracen Bikes train, racing something different every weekend and app development.
Photos by Jack Tennyson.
How did 2025 go for you?
2025 was awesome. From a riding perspective, I’ve really been enjoying some of the big riding events in the UK. We’re lucky to have a pretty stacked calendar over here, from Ard Rock to Malverns and Bolly Skyline. Loads of bike time and loads of fun.
As ever, Red Bull Hardline is a standout event for me and one that’s full of fear. Having a similar track to previous years helped the nerves, but nonetheless it’s a mad event.
In my personal life, I made a huge change at the start of 2025, leaving my banking career of 7 years to focus on Mavrix, the MTB video game I’ve been creating with my twin brother Matt. I’m stoked I made the change.
What’s on your radar for 2026?
If 2026 can be similar to 2025, I’ll be delighted. I’ll aim for all the same events, with the addition of Megavalanche and (maybe) a multi-day enduro event such as Trans Madeira. I’ve done both those events many times before and I was sad to miss them last year. I’m also keen to get back into some more DH racing. I’ve been super impressed with the Saracen Myst DH bike I’m riding now, so it’s revved me up to push myself in that discipline.
How does a new bike sponsor like Saracen help with doing bits of everything?
Saracen has a full suite of bikes to cover all disciplines, so from the Product perspective, their athletes (including me!) have all the tools for whatever MTB event they choose. Brand support is much deeper than bikes, and Saracen is investing a lot in the grass roots scene, bike parks and events across the UK, including SHRED Sessions where riders can come and try Saracen bikes with the team. With so many opportunities to ride a variety of venues with lots of new people, I’d say it’s this level of activity that ‘helps with doing bits of everything.’
What bikes will you be riding this year?
I’ll mainly be riding the Ariel 60 and the Myst, so a classic enduro and DH combo. For in-between days, I’m excited to ride the Ariel 80.
Will you have input into future bike development?
This is something I’m buzzing to be part of. With so much racing pedigree within Saracen, the bar is super high, but we’re already talking about what the future might hold. It feels very special to be a part of future development.
You ride pretty much anything and everything, how do you decide what to do, and what not to do?
Great question. I struggle to say no to stuff… so it’s often other people that decide for me. I’ve neglected dirt jumps a lot. So would like to do a bit more of that this year. Good timing with Matt bringing Woburn Bike Park back onto the map.
How do you prepare in the off-season to ride Hardline one weekend, a MiniDH the next before hopping on a plane to race urban downhill in South America?
Interestingly, the variety of events seems daunting but wherever it is, I find that once the first practice run is out the way, it’s just another day of riding. First practice runs always feel weird and tend to knock my confidence, but I’ve really gotten used to that feeling so don’t tend to fall into the trap of feeling defeated. From event to event, the tracks change, the dirt/conditions differ, the format varies, but once you’ve completed a run, it feels always feels like a race again.
The scary part is when that ‘first run’ is at Hardline or Urban DH, where there’s huge gaps and no B-lines…
Are you able to contact Matt via telekinesis, or vice versa?
He says hello.
The last time we sat down for a proper chat with you, it was early 2018 in the snow, you were on a DMR. What has been the biggest change for you, beyond pandemics etc, since then?
I’m super lucky to now have a profile/platform that allows me to compete in big events and pick my own schedule based on what excites me most. I used to relentlessly chase results, which was a necessity to progress in my riding career, but with so many years of racing under my belt, I’m in a position where I can promote brands (and myself) with less stress about the actual race result. The rise of social media has been a big part of that and is something I’ll continue to focus on pushing.
If we keep the same interview schedule, where do you think you’ll be in 2034?
I thought about this one for a while. When the time is right, I’d actually love to coach youngsters. Above all else, I just hope I’m still in the mix, still riding with my brother/ friends and still loving it.
