Sports reports: Monarto teenager crowned national Mini GP champion
Plus Rory O'Driscoll wins the 2025 Mail Medal, the first Supercars enduro race at the Bend is run and won, a soccer player plays his 100th game and more.
This story includes contributions from Michelle Greene, Terry Hann and Daniel Irvine.
Thirteen-year-old Monarto racing sensation Judd Plaisted – known to fans as Rocket Ronny – has officially been crowned the 2025 FIM Mini GP 190cc Australia series champion following a commanding performance in Sunday’s final round at Port Melbourne Motorcycle Club.
The results not only seals Plaisted’s place at the top of the national standings, it also etches his name into Australian motorsport history as the first rider to win back-to-back Mini GP titles across two classes: 160cc in 2024 and 190cc in 2025.
Plaisted’s consistent speed, technical skill and fearless race craft allowed him to dominate across the five-round national series, held across New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.
The national title earned him the right to represent Australia at the FIM Mini GP World Final in Valencia, Spain, where he’ll race against the top junior riders from more than 30 countries during the final week of the Moto GP season in November.
“To win back-to-back titles in two different classes means everything,” he said after stepping off the podium.
“The goal has always been Valencia – now we’re going.”
The global event is part of the official Road to Moto GP program, a proven development pathway for young riders with dreams of reaching the sport’s highest level.
“We’re incredibly proud of Judd,” said his mum Kylie Collins.
“This is a massive achievement, not just for him but for everyone who’s supported him.
“He’s put in the hard work, the travel, the training, and now he’ll wear the Aussie colours on the world stage.”
Plaisted began riding at a young age, inspired by a deep family legacy in motorbike racing, and has rapidly risen through the junior ranks, balancing school, training and national travel while supported by a tight-knit team of family, friends, and sponsors.
With names like Casey Stoner and Jack Miller having followed similar paths, Plaisted is now firmly on track to be part of the next generation of Australian Moto GP contenders.
Suns’ Rory O’Driscoll wins the RMFL’s Mail Medal
Meanwhile, Southern Mallee on-baller Rory O’Driscoll has won the Mail Medal as the River Murray Football League’s best and fairest player.
At the Bridges Event Centre on Monday night, O’Driscoll won the medal count with 24 votes ahead of Imperials’ Mitch Carroll, Tailem Bend’s Brodie Edwards and Jervois’ Lachie Thomas.
He became the first Sun to win the medal since the club joined the league in 2023.
O’Driscoll credited coach Tom Keough and midfielder Josh Smithson for helping him develop his game, along with everyone else at the “unbelievable” club.
Meanwhile, Jervois will face the Coorong Cats in this Saturday’s A grade grand final after knocking out Imperials by a single point, with a goal after the siren, last week.
Only Imps had beaten the Cats during the season.
Jervois 8.10 (58) defeated Imperials 8.9 (57)
- Jervois best: Josh Hickmott, Mitchell Noye, Lachlan Thomas, Cameron Poharama, Rigby Barnes, Zane Barry
- Imperials best: Louis De Michele, Mitchell Carroll, Nathan Daish, Sean Samblich, Kyle Staker
Kostecki and Hazelwood make history at the inaugural Airtouch 500 at the Bend
The 2025 Airtouch 500 has cemented Shell V-Power Motorsport Park as a world-class destination, thrilling a weekend crowd of more than 47,000 with the venue’s first 500-kilometre Supercars endurance race and the FIA Kumho TCR World Tour round on the same program.
Reigning Bathurst champions Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood delivered a spectacular win in the main event, claiming Ford’s first Supercars endurance victory in six years and the first Supercars enduro win for the Shell V-Power team at the circuit bearing the same name.
The #38 Mustang dominated after Hazelwood seized the lead from Jamie Whincup on lap 15, before Kostecki held off a relentless Cam Waters in a nail-biting final stint.
Waters/Mark Winterbottom and Matt Payne/Garth Tander completed an all-Ford podium, while title contender Broc Feeney and co-driver Whincup endured a nightmare run, slipping to 18th after mistakes and costly fuel delivery drama.
It was also Kostecki’s fourth straight win at the Bend, underlining his dominance at the South Australian circuit.
- Read more: www.thebend.com.au.
United coach plays his 100th game
Saturday has marked a huge milestone for one of Murray Bridge United’s dedicated legends.
A grade coach Jeremy Byrnes played his 100th game for the club, suiting up in the reserves.
For the past three years, Byrnes has led the soccer club’s A grade squad with passion, grit, and unwavering commitment.
But his impact went far beyond the pitch, the club said — he had worn many hats and had been a driving force behind its growth and culture.
Murray Bridge United 3 defeated Stirling Districts 1
- Goals: F. Milamila 1’, A. Taroga 3’, 33’
- Bookings: None
Murraylands trainers take three of nine at Morphettville
Murray Bridge horseman Gary Boyce is eyeing off a feature race start for his progressive galloper Anthracite after the five-year-old made it three wins in succession at Morphettville on Saturday.
Boyce will target the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day with the five-year-old, who showed versatility after finding himself in front for the first time in his four-start career before justifying his odds-on quote.
“When they’re a short price, you’re always expecting a result,’’ Boyce said.
Other Murraylands trainers with wins on Saturday included:
- Michael Hickmott with Rabtat, ridden by Caitlin Tootell in the Fleurieu Milk Company Handicap: $35,500 for the gelding’s fourth win in a row
- Stephen Theodore with Savsonic, ridden by Kayla Crowther in the Sydney McDonald Memorial Handicap: $18,100 in a dead heat
- Gary Boyce with Anthracite, ridden by Todd Pannell in the PFD Food Services Handicap: $27,300 for the gelding’s third win in a row
- Read more: www.racingsa.com.au.
Spring weather agrees with target rifle shooters
A glorious spring day has made for great shooting conditions at the Deed Range at Monarto as the Murray Bridge Rifle Club continued its annual championship from 500 metres.
Target rifle competitors especially made the most of the conditions, with all three out of the four shooters scoring possibles and only a point separating them in the end.
Greg Traeger, Jasamine Irvine and Robert Paech all scored 50s in their second round for TR, with the win to Traeger coming down to centres ahead of his daughter Jasamine, 99.09 to 99.02.
Paech came a close third with 98.13, while Andrew Heard claimed the handicap with his score of 98.11, after a tie with Paech.
David McDonald was the only shooter in F-class to score a possible, claiming off-rifle in F-open with a score of 118.08 and the F-class handicap overall.
Mark Nesti was next best with a pair of 58s for 116.08.
Bryan Robertson was the best of the standard shooters with 111.06, while Frank Marshall had the dubious honour of claiming the Magpie Award for the day.
Shooting will continue next week from 700m.
Murray Bridge Darts Club results
Mannum Club 8 defeated Raukkan A 5
Bulls A 8 defeated Launchers 5
Mozzies 8 defeated Vikings 5
- 180s: Martin Rose, Justin Fullgrabe, Paul Elphick
- Highest peg-outs: Ben McLeod 152; Deklan Banks 124, 119; Craig Atze 120, 118, 108; Leith Kahl 114, 104; Colin Wilson 105; Kevin Young 105; Anthony Clark 100
Email your sports reports to peri@murraybridge.news.
