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.
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.
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.
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.
[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
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
Report Matt O’Connell + Photography Rob Mott
MiniGP 160cc class bonus gallery
MiniGP 190cc class bonus gallery
