It was a weekend defined by sheer determination as NORA CRS Development rider Rafe Symons took on Round 6 of the Plews British Masters Motocross Championship at the notoriously demanding Culham sand track. Having previously missed a round due to injury, Symons arrived with his sights firmly set on capturing vital championship points to finish his campaign on a high note.
Day 1: Battles in the Sand
The weekend started with a challenging qualifying session. While the results weren’t quite what the team had hoped for, Rafe refused to let it dampen his resolve.
When the gate dropped for Race 1, Rafe dug deep. Launching into a solid rhythm, he held down an impressive 10th place for the opening laps. He pushed hard to maintain the pace, but a minor mistake on lap 5 ultimately cost him a position, crossing the line in 11th place.
Determined to bounce back, Rafe fired out of the gate in Race 2 with a cracking start, instantly settling into 7th place. A fierce, multi-lap battle ensued as the rider behind put intense pressure on the NORA CRS star. Rafe was momentarily squeezed back a position, but showing immense composure, he launched a brilliant counter-attack a lap later to reclaim 7th. The drama didn’t end there—on the final lap, the trailing rider managed an excellent pass, leaving Rafe to take the chequered flag in a hard-fought 8th place.
Day 2: Overcoming Adversity
Sunday brought fresh challenges in Race 3. Rafe suffered a disappointing start but immediately put his head down, working his way into 11th. By lap 5, he executed a textbook pass to break into the top 10, holding strong to finish in 10th place.
The final moto of the weekend, Race 4, saw Rafe rocket out of the gate with another brilliant start to claim 6th early on. However, the treacherous Culham terrain struck on a deeply rutted corner, washing out his front end and sending him to the deck. Showing true grit, he remounted quickly in 11th and locked his eyes on the rider ahead, reclaiming 10th by lap 5.
Disaster struck again on lap 6 when Rafe suffered a heavy, high-speed crash. After being down for a few moments, he bravely got back on the bike, finding himself relegated to 13th. Refusing to give up, Rafe went on a mad dash in the closing stages, picking off a rider just before the finish line to claim an incredible 12th place.
A Strong Championship Finish & Eyes on MXGB
Rafe’s unrelenting work ethic paid off handsomely. His 11-8-10-12 scorecard secured him a well-deserved 10th overall for the weekend, locking in a fantastic 9th place in the overall British Masters Championship—a remarkable achievement considering the critical points lost while sidelined with an injury earlier in the season.
There is no time to rest for the resilient youngster. Rafe currently sits 9th overall in the MXGB National Championship, where he has successfully completed every single round. All eyes now turn to the final MXGB round in the coming weeks. With his current form and unwavering determination, Rafe has his sights set on mastering the finale and breaking into the top 6 overall—a goal the entire team knows he is fully capable of achieving.
