NORA CRS rider Rafe Symons kicked off his highly anticipated MXGB Youth Championship campaign with a gritty performance at the notoriously brutal FatCat MotoParc. Despite a weekend plagued by red flags and race stoppages, Symons’ months of winter preparation paid off as he secured a hard-fought 6th place overall in the Small Wheel 85cc class.
The season opener at the Doncaster sand track saw the UK’s elite youth riders face off in challenging conditions. Symons showed immediate pace in qualifying, posting the 7th fastest time before the session was prematurely halted.
Race Highlights:
- Race 1: After a strong start, Symons was challenging for 5th place when a front-end washout sent him to the deck. Showing remarkable resilience, he remounted instantly, but a red flag ended the race early, reverting the results to the previous lap and leaving him in 9th.
- Race 2: Boxed in at the start, Symons utilized superior race craft and stamina to slice through a 39-rider field. He fought his way up to 6th, only for another red flag to strike, officially placing him 7th.
- Race 3: Symons’ best start of the weekend saw him settle into 4th. He demonstrated “lightning-fast” reactions to avoid a falling rider mid-race, eventually crossing the line in 6th—a position that stood despite yet another red-flag finish.
The event was ultimately concluded early following a serious incident requiring an air ambulance for another competitor. Symons’ consistent scoring across the three completed motos saw him tie on points for 5th, officially taking 6th overall for the round.
