ELEVEN-TIME British grasstrack champion Paul Hurry has paid tribute to his friend Symon Wall, who died in a racing accident.

Symon, a 35-year-old from Rochester who also played football for Snodland, died on the track at a race meeting in Prattling, Germany, when his 1,000cc sidecar was involved in a collision.

Maidstone motorcyclist Hurry said: "It is so tragic. His death is going to leave such a big hole in the sport of grasstrack and I don’t think things will ever be the same again.

"He was just one of those characters that was always smiling and was so full of beans.

"I just think it’s important that we learn from tragedies like this and try to make the sport as safe as possible."