British motocross racer and NORA CRS Rider Rafe Symons made a heroic return to the MXGB National Championship this weekend, finishing 17th overall just four weeks after breaking his collarbone.
A hard racing crash a month ago threatened to derail Rafe’s busy season across the Plews, MXGB, and NORA92 British Cup Championships. While the injury forced him to miss rounds of the Plews and NORA series, Rafe teamed up with Coach Robb on a strict nutrition and treatment plan to fast-track his recovery for the MXGB round.
Despite intense nerves about re-injury on a wet and slippery Wroxton circuit, Rafe faced his fears to qualify 23rd before tackling four brutal races.
Race 1: Strong Pace, Late Slip
Rafe launched into the opening race with a superb start, quickly settling into 12th position. He showed excellent speed, clocking his fastest lap on lap five. A minor tip-over in a corner on the penultimate lap dropped him from 13th to 18th, but he remounted instantly with his healing collarbone unscathed. Crossing the line in 18th Position
Race 2: Chaos in the Downpour
The heavens opened ahead of the second race, turning the track into a muddy mire. Rafe nailed another brilliant start, but his progress was halted when a multi-bike pile-up on the face of a jump blocked the track. Caught up in the chaos, Rafe dropped to 31st place. Refusing to quit, he fought his way back up to finish an outstanding 24th.
Race 3: Sunday Fightback
A new, drier day brought fresh energy. Rafe executed another strong start and held 12th position by lap two. A small mistake on lap six caused a brief crash, dropping him to 16th. Showing true grit, Rafe executed a thrilling last-lap pass to cross the finish line in 15th place.
Race 4: Digging Deep
Rafe saved his best start for last, charging into 9th position and holding it for the first four laps. Having been unable to train on a bike for a month, fatigue eventually set in during the final laps. A few riders managed to squeeze past, leaving Rafe to finish a proud 14th.
Against all odds, Rafe’s personal commitment rewarded him with 17th overall for the weekend, keeping his championship dreams alive.
