Judd ‘Rocket Ronny’ Plaisted and Cameron Dunker have taken the overall round wins at the third round of the FIM MiniGP Australia Series held at Ipswich Go Kart Track over 22-23 July.

Plaisted, from South Australia and competing in the 160cc class for 10-14 year olds, qualified second in between Queenslanders Jake Paige and Hunter Corney on pole. Corney started strongly in the first race, building a gap to Paige of over three seconds by mid race distance. Plaisted, applying constant pressure, made his move on Paige for second place soon after. They finished in that position at the line, with Rikki Henry and Ethan Johnston completing the top five. In race two Plaisted made a much better start, taking Corney early on and holding position throughout the race. With several laps remaining, Henry was able to reel in both Paige and then Corney to steal second with Jackson MacDonald in fifth. The result handed Plaisted the round win while Henry still holds the championship lead.

Judd Plaisted (#11) leads the 160cc field

In the 190cc class for 12-16-year-olds, Cameron Dunker proved the class of the field in race one, blitzing from pole position to win by almost eight seconds. Harrison Watts came through from sixth on the grid to take second from Bodie Paige.

Victory wheelie for Cameron Dunker

After a mechanical fault in race one left Levi Russo out of contention on the opening lap, in race two he was back on the pace but Dunker had cleared out again, establishing a gap of two seconds which he managed to the line. Russo produced the quickest laps of the race towards the end, including the race lap record of 53.773 seconds on the final lap. Paige held the final podium spot, beating out Watts by several tenths.

Dunker leads the 190cc field in Ipswich

In the supporting classes, Harry Voight was making the most of his European summer break, riding in the GP2 class and winning all four races as he prepares for the final rounds of the FIM JuniorGP Moto2 Championship. In the Veterans class, Matt Watkins took three out of four wins with the other going to his brother, Paul. The series now heads to Monarto, South Australia on 26-27 August.

Harrison Voight
Three from four for Matt Watkins in the over-35s class

[results]

FIM MiniGP 190cc after 3 of 5 rounds

1          C Dunker         Ova     131

2          H Watts           Ova     110

3          J Newman       Ova     77

4          B Paige           Ova     73

5          H Thompson   Ova     72

Cameron Dunker

FIM MiniGP 160cc after 3 of 5 rounds

1          R Henry           Ova     119

2          J Paige            Ova     111

3          H Corney         Ova     107

4          I Ayad              Ova     79

5          J Fyffe             Ova     58

Rikki Henry
Report Matt O’Connell + Photography Rob Mott

MiniGP 160cc class bonus gallery

MiniGP 160cc: Rikki Henry
MiniGP 160cc: Hunter Corney
MiniGP 160cc: Judd Plaisted
The MiniGP 160cc field poised for the start in Ipswich
Paise and Plaisted fight for glory in the 160cc class.
Hunter Corney sits in third in the 160cc championship after three rounds
MiniGP 160cc: Rikki Henry and Isaac Ayad
A happy race winner – Judd Plaisted
The 160cc MiniGP class of 2023

MiniGP 190cc class bonus gallery
Bodie Paige
Dominate Dunker
Levi Russo
Bodie Paige is currently 4th in the 190cc championship with two rounds remaining
Dunker takes the chequered flag ahead of Russo