At the iconic Hawkstone Park—a theatre of motocross since the 1950s—Rafe Symons faced the ultimate test of temperament and talent during Round 2 of the Plews British Masters. Fresh off a triple-win weekend at Bromsberrow and armed with strategic insights from Coach Robb, Rafe arrived ready to “surf the sand” under the shadow of the daunting Hawkstone Hill.
The weekend began with a heart-pounding qualifying session. After a fuel-tap mishap left him with only two flying laps, Rafe battled through yellow flags to secure P14. Unfazed, he proved he is a true racer when the gates dropped.
Race 1 saw Rafe nearly clinch the holeshot, holding a blistering 4th place until a momentary lapse sent him into the dirt. Showing incredible resilience, he charged back, slicing through the field in the wave section to finish 9th. As the rain moved in for Race 2, the track became a brutal, rutted mess. Starting on slick, wet concrete, Rafe leaned on his superior fitness and sand-racing pedigree to carve his way up to a brilliant 5th place, ending Day 1 sitting 6th overall.
Day two brought fresh drama. Despite a distracted start in Race 3, Rafe showcased his natural flair, picking off riders three at a time in the waves to fight back to 8th. However, the finale, Race 4, was the ultimate thriller. A “whiskey throttle” over a jump sent his bike flying without him. Rafe sprinted back to his machine, had a quick mechanical adjustment in the pits, and entered “Hunter Mode.” From dead last, he tore through the pack with relentless speed, only for a heart-breaking stall on the final lap to relegate him to 38th.
Despite the late-game misfortune, Rafe’s raw speed and grit earned him 13th overall. It was a weekend of high-flying action that proved Rafe Symons doesn’t just race—he fights.
