2023 FIM MiniGP Australia Collection
Port Melbourne – Victoria
With Mark Bracks, Pictures by RbMotoLens
The opening spherical of the 2023 version of the FIM MiniGP Championship was held on the Port Melbourne Worldwide Karting complicated on the weekend of 11-12 March and if the 4 races of the brand new look FIM MiniGP program are a sign, the extent of competitors, velocity and depth has lifted a notch for the reason that inaugural 12 months in 2022.
For 2023, the FIM MiniGP has expanded to now characteristic two lessons; the unique Ohvale GP-0 class for 10-14 12 months previous on 160 cc machines with 10-inch wheels (FIM MiniGP 160 cc class), and now a category for 12-16 year-olds on the bigger 190 cc GP-2 Ohvale with 12-inch wheels (the FIM MiniGP 190 cc class).
As was the case final 12 months, the highest two from the 160 cc class might be invited to attend the worldwide shootout that might be held within the week of the ultimate GP of the season at Valencia, in Spain, whereas for the brand new class the highest three might be invited.
For international locations to be allowed to run each lessons they need to have already got a sequence for the smaller bikes. As such, there usually are not as many countries that may run the extra class this 12 months, thus the explanation why three riders from the 190 cc class might be invited.
Sufficient of the formal aspect of issues, the motion on the weekend was spectacular with intense racing, loads of drama and lap information regularly lowered by way of the 2 fields.
FIM MINIGP 190 cc
The introduction of the bigger capability FIM MiniGP class is a grasp stroke because it offers the youngsters an additional alternative to hone their apparent skills on the Grand Prix impressed machines and proceed the educational curve that has confirmed profitable with the smaller 10-inch wheel bikes.
The category additionally has two races that have been 16 laps in period and whereas there may need solely been eight entrants on the opening around the expertise on show was equalled by the motion.
The riders within the class have already made a popularity for themselves within the lessons of the ASBK with Levi Russo on pole, from class debutant 2022 ASBK Supersport 300 and R3 Cup Champ Cameron Dunker, whereas final 12 months’s FIM MiniGP and OJC Champ Harrison Watts was third.
Different names within the subject included Hudson Thompson, Josh Newman (nephew of Glenn Allerton), Marcus Hamod, Bodie Paige and Toby James.
As within the smaller class it didn’t take the lap report lengthy to be lowered but once more with Russo posting a qualifying time of 51.768sec that eclipsed Senna Agius’s race lap report set again in January which was some three seconds faster than the lap occasions from a 12 months beforehand. The youngsters are extraordinarily quick and for essentially the most half, extraordinarily clean.
The entrance row scarpered off the road to arrange a spot over Thompson and the remainder because the trio had greater than a one second lead after the opening lap.
Russo led each lap with Dunker proper on his tail in search of a approach by way of as he probed and thrust at each alternative, leaving Watts with an ideal view of what was proper in entrance of him.
It was solely a matter of time earlier than Dunker determined to have a dip however he confirmed endurance till there was a bit of over two laps remaining as they headed into the second final nook – a left hand hairpin.
There was a slight hole on the within and Dunker went for it however sadly, he clashed with Russo, each riders leaving the monitor, locked collectively. Dunker stayed upright however Russo tipped the bike on its aspect as Dunker grass tracked to get again on the black stuff.
Watts took full benefit of the scenario to inherit the lead and held on, to take the win with Dunker second and Thompson third. Russo managed to push the bike throughout the road to say eighth place and salvage very important factors that may little question be wanted within the remaining eight races over the 4 remaining rounds.
Dunker claimed a brand new lap report (51.870) as he stalked Russo of their nice battle.
After the race Dunker defined, “I apologise to Levi for the incident however I needed to have a go. That’s undoubtedly not the best way I need to win a race however hey, it’s racing. Typically this stuff occur.”
Russo copped the incident on the chin, agreeing that it was a racing incident.
FIM MINIGP 190 cc Race 1 Outcomes
| Pos | Rider | Hole |
| 1 | Harrison WATTS (QLD) | – |
| 2 | Cameron DUNKER (NSW) | +0.919 |
| 3 | Hudson THOMPSON (NSW) | +4.618 |
| 4 | Joshua NEWMAN (NSW) | +8.747 |
| 5 | Bodie PAIGE (QLD) | +17.301 |
| 6 | Toby JAMES (VIC) | 1 Lap |
| 7 | James LONGMUIR (VIC) | 1 Lap |
| 8 | Levi RUSSO (NSW) | 1 Lap |
| DNF | Marcus HAMOD (NSW) | 5 Laps |
RACE TWO
There was loads of anticipation for the ultimate race and Russo was eager to finish the day on a optimistic be aware, but it surely all went pear formed for him heading into flip one off the beginning.
Russo led the sector, however no sooner had he grabbed the brake than the entrance washed out and he crashed on his personal with Dunker taking up the lead and by no means headed with Watts in second.
Russo remounted in final place however fought again to seventh to once more salvage some a lot wanted factors.
Dunker managed to get out to a 1.3 second lead over Watts after seven laps however then Watts tried every part to shut the hole to be simply 0.115 seconds off the win with Thompson once more third.
With a win and a second place apiece, Dunker and Watts completed on equal factors with Dunker taking the spherical win on account of profitable race two.
Each lessons offered an impressive appetiser to set the scene for what might be a memorable and thrilling 12 months of racing.
The following spherical is in mid-Could on the Cameron Park kart monitor simply outdoors of Newcastle (NSW). It will likely be a brand new monitor for almost all of the opponents, so it’s certain so as to add one other intriguing dynamic to the weekend.
FIM MINIGP 190 cc Race 2 Outcomes
| Pos | Rider | Hole |
| 1 | Cameron DUNKER (NSW) | – |
| 2 | Harrison WATTS (QLD) | +0.115 |
| 3 | Hudson THOMPSON (NSW) | +11.569 |
| 4 | Joshua NEWMAN (NSW) | +11.817 |
| 5 | Marcus HAMOD (NSW) | +20.984 |
| 6 | Bodie PAIGE (QLD) | +21.169 |
| 7 | Levi RUSSO (NSW) | +45.164 |
| 8 | Toby JAMES (VIC) | 1 Lap |
| 9 | James LONGMUIR (VIC) | 2 Laps |
FIM MINIGP 190cc Standings
| Pos | Identify | R1 | R2 | Complete |
| 1 | Cameron DUNKER | 20 | 25 | 45 |
| 2 | Harrison WATTS | 25 | 20 | 45 |
| 3 | Hudson THOMPSON | 16 | 16 | 32 |
| 4 | Joshua NEWMAN | 13 | 13 | 26 |
| 5 | Bodie PAIGE | 11 | 10 | 21 |
| 6 | Toby JAMES | 10 | 8 | 18 |
| 7 | Levi RUSSO | 8 | 9 | 17 |
| 8 | James LONGMUIR | 9 | 7 | 16 |
| 9 | Marcus HAMOD | 11 | 11 |
FIM MINIGP 160 cc
Within the 160 cc GP-0 class Isaac Ayad claimed pole in a brand new qualifying finest lap, taking an astounding two seconds off the time set by final 12 months’s sequence runner-up, Terrin Fleming, on the corresponding opening spherical, final 12 months.
Hunter Corney was second quickest, simply 0.065 second away with fellow Queenslander, Jake Paige 0.026 sec away in third, the highest eight separated by a second.
Within the opening leg, Paige grabbed the lead from Ayad within the cost to the uphill blind entry flip one from Corney and Victorian, Ethan Johnson, who made a very good begin from the second row.
Rikki Henry (SA) was equally spectacular from the third row to climb to fourth from achieved dirt-tracker/third era highway racer Jed Fyffe and Australian Tae-kwon-doe champion Jackson Macdonald, holding off Ayad’s youthful brother Ethan.
Paige and Ayad quickly broke away from the remainder as Corney led the bunch within the battle for third for the primary half of the race from Johnson till he made a mistake and ran off to drop down the order.
Ayad was making an attempt every part to get by Paige however to no avail, as Paige coated each transfer, making no errors to permit his rival to take any benefit as they distanced themselves from the remainder of their duel for the win.
At half race distance Henry placed on a decided transfer to go Corney for third, to offer chase to the main pair, however the distance was too nice.
He had lots to consider with Corney, on his ducktail and Fyffe and Macdonald proper amongst it till the ultimate couple of laps when passing lapped riders curtailed their cost across the tight and difficult structure.
Paige claimed the win by simply on a second from Ayad with Henry over six seconds away in third, lower than three tenths in entrance of Corney.
The earlier lap report set six weeks in the past on the Sandringham MCC Summer time Collection, by Corney, was damaged by all within the high six aside from Corney himself!
Ayad claimed the brand new outright race lap report with a time of 55.340.
FIM MINIGP 160 cc Race 1 Outcomes
| Pos | Rider | Hole |
| 1 | Jake PAIGE (QLD) | – |
| 2 | Isaac AYAD (NSW) | +0.999 |
| 3 | Rikki HENRY (SA) | +7.790 |
| 4 | Hunter CORNEY (QLD) | +8.062 |
| 5 | Jed FYFFE (NSW) | +10.176 |
| 6 | Jackson MACDONALD (VIC) | +11.262 |
| 7 | Xavier CURMI (NSW) | +21.475 |
| 8 | Ethan AYAD (NSW) | +26.278 |
| 9 | Cooper HORNE (VIC) | +39.043 |
| 10 | Connor LEWIS (NSW) | +47.033 |
| 11 | Ethan JOHNSON (VIC) | +47.385 |
| 12 | Joshua WHITE (VIC) | 1 Lap |
| DNF | Oscar LEWIS (NSW) | 9 Laps |
RACE TWO
Quickest qualifier Ayad launched off the road to steer the opening lap from Paige Corney and Henry, fourth quickest qualifier Macdonald in fifth proper within the combine, with Fyffe on his tail.
Paige made his approach into the lead on lap two after which placed on a scientific dispay of constant laps to tug a spot at each nook.
Henry was as much as third by the tip of the second lap and improved to second spot a few laps later however there was a little bit of controversy that got here out on the finish of the race.
Younger Ethan Ayad had crashed (unharmed) at Flip One with the yellow flags being waved. Within the cost alongside pit straight as much as the blind entry nook, Henry dived beneath brakes heading in however with the yellows being displayed he shortly realised the error of his methods and gave up the place quickly after.
As Paige gapped them Henry and Ayad placed on a really entertaining battle for the final spots on the rostrum with a freight prepare of 5 riders, line astern behind as they every tried every part of their lesson ebook making an attempt to go one another.
The antics have been spectacular on such a good monitor as all of them tried a minimum of one dive bomb transfer at some stage throughout the 16-lap race
Paige could have received the race simply however that didn’t take away from the motion behind.
Henry completed over 5 seconds in arrears however second to seventh was coated by 0.600 second, the sextuplet like a fast worm negotiating the tight little monitor adjoining to the automotive park that’s the West Gate Bridge.
Within the helter-skelter of the six-bike freight prepare, Jed Fyffe – who was in fifth place – put in his quickest lap of the race on the ultimate lap and in doing so took one other .306 second off the just lately set lap report to set the benchmark of 55.024sec.
Whereas Paige was approach forward, rolling off laps inside tenths of one another, these concerned within the intense battle for second place had lots to be pleased with.
For the likes of Macdonald and Fyffe, it was the smallest hole to the winner of their quick highway racing expertise. An infinite enhance of confidence to the long run rounds.
The driving ability of those younger riders is extraordinarily spectacular and has definitely lifted immensely for the reason that first ever spherical of the FIM MiniGP in March final 12 months on the similar venue.
This was mirrored within the variety of occasions the lap information have been lowered and what number of riders improved their PB’s to be setting their very own spectacular bench-marks.
FIM MINIGP 160 cc Race 2 Outcomes
| Pos | Rider | Hole |
| 1 | Jake PAIGE (QLD) | – |
| 2 | Rikki HENRY (SA) | +4.044 |
| 3 | Isaac AYAD (NSW) | +4.443 |
| 4 | Hunter CORNEY (QLD) | +4.778 |
| 5 | Jed FYFFE (NSW) | +4.918 |
| 6 | Jackson MACDONALD (VIC) | +5.648 |
| 7 | Ethan JOHNSON (VIC) | +6.657 |
| 8 | Cooper HORNE (VIC) | +33.021 |
| 9 | Connor LEWIS (NSW) | +44.968 |
| 10 | Oscar LEWIS (NSW) | +55.743 |
| 11 | Xavier CURMI (NSW) | 1 Lap |
| 12 | Joshua WHITE (VIC) | 1 Lap |
| DNF | Ethan AYAD (NSW) | 5 Laps |
FIM MINIGP 160 cc Standings
| Pos | Identify | R1 | R2 | Complete |
| 1 | Jake PAIGE | 25 | 25 | 50 |
| 2 | Rikki HENRY | 16 | 20 | 36 |
| 3 | Isaac AYAD | 20 | 16 | 36 |
| 4 | Hunter CORNEY | 13 | 13 | 26 |
| 5 | Jed FYFFE | 11 | 11 | 22 |
| 6 | Jackson MACDONALD | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| 7 | Cooper HORNE | 7 | 8 | 15 |
| 8 | Ethan JOHNSON | 5 | 9 | 14 |
| 9 | Xavier CURMI | 9 | 5 | 14 |
| 10 | Connor LEWIS | 6 | 7 | 13 |
| 11 | Joshua WHITE | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 12 | Ethan AYAD | 8 | 8 | |
| 13 | Oscar LEWIS | 6 | 6 |
Helps: Ohvale GP-2, Veterans, Grom/Mini Motard
Over the 2 days there have been three help lessons; an Ohvale GP-2 race for all ages, a Veterans class and a mixed Grom/Mini Motard class.
All offered some very shut and spectacular racing with most of the older “children” doing a number of lessons. Many of the Veterans cross entered within the GP-2 class giving them eight races over the 2 days.
Within the GP-2 class older brother of Levi Russo, Jai took the category with three wins and a sixth place from Matt Watkins and Adam Banner third.
Watkins added extra silverware to his gear bag. taking out the Veterans class with three wins and a second. Co-owner of Ohvale Australia Nick Angelopoulos was second and Watkins’ brother Paul, third.
The Grom/Mini Motard class additionally had some entertaining races throughout their 4 races with the little two-stroke Kawasaki KX80 of Paul Englezos claiming three wins and a second to take the category from the Honda Grom of David White. Winwright Condon on his Ohvale powered DMZ was third general.
House owners of Ohvale Australia, Nick Angelopoulos, Dimitri Papaconstantinou and Wayne Maxwell have been extraordinarily pleased with the opening spherical.
Wayne Maxwell
“That was a unbelievable method to begin the 12 months. The racing was first-class with the children exhibiting how a lot they’ve improved from final 12 months, mixed with the newcomers who’ve proven an incredible enchancment over the weekend as effectively.
“The brand new FIM MiniGP 190 class is a good idea and that was proven within the high quality of the racing and the riders in it. It’s a credit score to all concerned from Nick and Dim who do an unlimited quantity of labor, by way of to the officers and everybody concerned. We’re all very proud to be part of it.”
OHVALE GP-2 Outcomes
| Pos | Identify | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Complete |
| 1 | Jai RUSSO | 25 | 15 | 25 | 25 | 90 |
| 2 | Matt WATKINS | 18 | 25 | 17 | 20 | 80 |
| 3 | Adam BANNER | 20 | 17 | 20 | 15 | 72 |
| 4 | Paul WATKINS | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 67 |
| 5 | Cooper ROWNTREE | 15 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 63 |
| 6 | Nicholas ANGELOPOULOS | 16 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 58 |
| 7 | Alessandro FOGLI | 12 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 56 |
| 8 | Rikki WATT | – | 13 | 18 | 17 | 48 |
| 9 | Aesop AHN | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 47 |
| 10 | Oliver WATKINS | 14 | 14 | 13 | – | 41 |
Veterans Outcomes
| Pos | Identify | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Complete |
| 1 | Matt WATKINS | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 95 |
| 2 | Nicholas ANGELOPOULOS | 25 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 75 |
| 3 | Paul WATKINS | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 71 |
| 4 | David WHITE | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 63 |
| 5 | Wayne HEPBURN | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 58 |
| 6 | Rikki WATT | – | 20 | 20 | 16 | 56 |
| 7 | Buzz KIELY | – | 17 | 16 | 20 | 53 |
| 8 | Chris ANGELOPOULOS | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 51 |
| 9 | Mark LONGMUIR | – | 13 | 13 | 13 | 39 |
Mini Motard/Grom Outcomes
| Pos | Identify | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Complete |
| 1 | Paul ENGLEZOS | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 95 |
| 2 | David WHITE | 25 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 85 |
| 3 | Winwright CONDON | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 69 |
| 4 | Anthony MARINELLO | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 65 |
| 5 | Karl LANKSCH | 18 | 18 | 18 | – | 54 |
| 6 | Paul VALENTA | 15 | 15 | – | 16 | 46 |
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