MINIGP ROUND 04 | Williams Seals it!

The Sunshine Coast star has locked down the 160cc title with a round to spare

Chaz Williams has sensationally clinched the FuSport FIM MiniGP 160cc national title for 2025 with a round to spare and remains undefeated, while Judd Plaisted also took a double victory in the 190cc class after the series visited Albury-Wodonga Kart Club for the first time over 16-17 August.

Many riders had recently returned from China after competing in the Guangzhou Super Cup and, for Williams it was straight back to business, the 11-year-old from the Sunshine Coast learning the new circuit quickly to take pole position from fellow Sunny Coaster Austin Attard (Hammertime).

Williams and Attard have struck up a healthy rivalry during the year, interrupted by a broken arm for Attard while training on his dirt bike. Williams, who was himself recovering from injury at Albury, took the lead early in the opening event and posted his fastest lap at the end of the race for a 1.1sec victory.

Attard held off Archie Pope (Motostars) by several tenths in a thrilling battle to finish second and third respectively.

The second race was similar, with Williams beating Attard home by eight-tenths with Pope 10 seconds back.

“The track was a lot of fun,” said Williams. “You really had to throw the bike around through the esses. There were resurfaced parts as well, and the old parts of the track were filled with silicone and slippery in the wet. It was a lot more technical than it appeared.”

Pope was a big improver at Albury and while Williams has claimed his spot at the World Final in Valencia, the second qualifying position is much closer with Attard, Cooper Horne, Ethan Ayad and Pope all in contention.

The opening 190cc race was full of drama after Jake Paige made a gear selection error off the startline, leaving him almost last and having to pick his way through the field to chase down the rapid Plaisted – who took the flag by 1.3sec to Paige.

The battle for third escalated when Phoenix O’Brien and Isaac Ayad came together with just several corners remaining. O’Brien went down, leaving Ayad to claim the final podium spot.

In the second leg, Paige and Plaisted turned up the intensity, swapping the lead multiple times. Plaisted, who looked strong in the faster sections of the track, somehow threaded the needle with two laps remaining to take the lead – aided by Paige having to avoid a fallen rider on the final lap.

“Jake was showing super-fast pace; he came by me at turn two, which is a very difficult spot to pass,” Plaisted said later. “We had different gearing, which meant he was better when it was tight and I was faster out the back.”

Behind them, Ayad was able to hold off O’Brien for third and, much like the 160cc class, the final round will be hard fought as the spots for Valencia are decided.

In the new-for-2025 110cc class, newcomers Tanner Murray and Xavier Tonna dominated, with Murray picking up all four race wins from Tonna with Liam Fogli third. The Mini Bikes Pro class was once again tough among the big dogs, with Cam Dunker (Livson Racing) taking the round win with two race victories, with Mim Nikolis in second after taking out the opener. Levi and Jai Russo were third and fourth respectively, with Levi grabbing race two. James Wrigley took out the Veterans class ahead of Billy Subasi and Chris Angelopoulos.

There is now just one round remaining, with the series finale to be held at Port Melbourne GoKart Track over 12-14 September.

HOW CHAMP DID  THE HARD YARDS

AFTER FINISHING runner-up last year to Judd Plaisted as a 10-year-old, Chaz Williams has put in the hard yards to remain undefeated in 2025. “The No.1 thing I cared about this weekend was protecting that winning streak!” Williams told AMCN after his landmark victory. “I’ve really had to improve my braking this year. I worked on that a lot during the off-season, as well as getting back on the throttle quicker and not trailing the brake for too long entering a turn. Judd’s lap records from last year were a target.”

During the year, Williams has developed a strong rivalry with Austin Attard. “At Cameron Park and Oakleigh I had to really push hard against Austin. (At) Monarto, I knew he wasn’t fully fit and it took the shine off the wins a little bit.”

The recent trip to China included a stint in Spain, taking advantage of a scholarship offer with the ETG team racing MiniGP.

“I picked up a lot of racecraft in Spain and I’m also allowed to compete on the 190cc bikes; it was really good preparation for China. Our schedules haven’t lined up completely but I hope to get back for their final round at Aragon. I love Spain and the culture. We were riding most days with guys like Angel Piqueras doing all sorts of different drills.”

After winning the first race at the Guangzhou Super Cup, a crash in the wet double-points final was the only low point, a remarkable achievement considering Williams had to have a cast cut off his arm just to compete after breaking his wrist in two places in Spain. “I have two friends that play basketball and tennis, they understand a little bit of what I’m trying to achieve. It’s hard to relate to my friends at school just how intense racing is and how much preparation and training is involved.”

Wiliams’ mother Gemma said the MiniGP development process made her feel comfortable with the sport. “This weekend feels surreal to be honest, for Chaz to win the title. We guide Chaz, but at the end of the day he’s the racer and he has to set his own goals. It’s pretty impressive the way the boys are coached. Wayne (Maxwell, pictured below with Williams) puts so much time into everybody and the kids are growing so much this year. They are all getting faster.”

Williams has also had strong backing from Evolution Sports Group, helmed by Wayne Hepburn and Nathan Webb. “We’ve had so much support from Wayne and Nathan. They are honestly incredible; you’ve got to do everything you can to help younger kids get on a bike here – travelling to Spain really highlighted that.”

Next year Williams will ride in the 190cc class under an age exemption but first up is the Ohvale World Series in Valencia and the Oceania Junior Cup where he leads the standings with two rounds remaining.

FIM MiniGP 190cc Round 4

Standings after 4 of 5 rounds
J Plaisted 172, J Paige 156, I Ayad 124, P O’Brien 114, N Lazos 87

FIM MiniGP 160cc Round 4

Standings after 4 of 5 rounds
C Williams 200, A Attard 125, C Horne 121, E Ayad 100, A Pope 98