Monday October 8, 2018 at 4:15pm
RHL Activities are pleased to announce the return of Alex Snow and Luke Hawkins to the 2018 HydroGarden Weston Beach Race Powered by KTM, where both riders will compete for the HydroGarden Honda Race Team on October 19-21.
Resplendent in full HydroGarden livery, the team will be run alongside Buildbase Honda, with both teams managed by four-time Motocross World Champion Dave Thorpe.
Former Grand Prix motocross turned enduro racer Snow could be a real threat for the podium positions at this year’s event. Recently crowned British Enduro 1 Champion, the 24-year-old Honda rider has enjoyed a number of top-10 finishes in recent years and will be keen to claim his first HydroGarden Weston Beach Race podium this October.
Alex Snow: “I am really looking forward to Weston, it will be good to have another proper go at it. Last year went well, I finished eighth, but that came after a month off the bike due to tendonitis. I lasted the race but it wasn’t ideal. This year I am fully fit and I know I can fight for the podium. It’s been a successful but busy end to the 2018 season really. I’ve done a lot of preparation for the longer races, so hopefully if everything goes well I should be somewhere near the front. Anything can happen at Weston, but I’m feeling confident and can’t wait to get racing.”
Professional motocross racer and head instructor at the Dave Thorpe Honda Off Road Centre, Luke Hawkins is in with a strong chance for Weston glory this year. The Bristol based rider was in the fight for the podium at the 2017 event only to be forced to retire just forty minutes from the finish. Fully fit and well prepared for 2018, Hawkins is keen to claim his second Weston podium.
Luke Hawkins: “The HydroGarden Weston Beach Race is a race I look forward to every year, it’s close to home and definitely one of the best events in the UK if not the world. The atmosphere is great and all my family and friends come down – it’s one of those events I love doing. The organisers are always very inviting and make all the riders feel welcome. The goal for this year is definitely a podium - I’ve been up there before in 2010 so the plan is to revisit that this year. Preparation has been going well. I have been doing a lot of training behind the scenes and I’m feeling pretty good. I was running fourth last year but I had to retire, so hopefully this time I can convert everything into a good result.”
Dave Thorpe HydroGarden Honda Team Manager: “It’s an honour to be able to run the HydroGarden Honda team at the HydroGarden Weston Beach Race again. It’s great to be part of the HydroGarden family and to be able to continue our racing relationship with them. Alex and Luke have both got good experience at Weston and the pair of them are easily strong enough to battle for the podium positions. The HydroGarden Weston beach Race is one of the most iconic events on the calendar and to be able to field not one but two strong teams is something very special.”
Gareth Hockey, Director of RHL Activities: “Obviously it’s great to have our title sponsor represented by such a great team and outstanding riders again. I’m really looking forward to seeing the HydroGarden bikes set off down the start straight. With former winner Dave Thorpe at the helm, I’m sure the team will be capable of some strong results.”