Photo credit: Show ‘n’ Go Media
Brett Comiskey and Corey Cooper #834 have stormed to victory at the weekend’s 2026 Custom Lithium Don River Dash, producing a dominant performance to claim outright honours on the iconic Bowen riverbed.
Comiskey made an immediate statement in the team’s newly acquired Class 8 Mason AWD Trophy Truck, powering through all six laps to secure a dominant victory, finishing more than six minutes clear of the field at Round 8 of the ARB Mickey Thompson Queensland Championship.
Photo credit: Show ‘n’ Go MediaFellow North Queenslander Seeton Battle #28 charged onto the Don River podium in his V8-powered Element Prodigy, finishing third outright alongside navigators Nathan Cade and Adam Franklin.
Photo credit: Show ‘n’ Go MediaClass 6 champions Lochlan and Kevin Waters #699 recorded their best result in Bowen finishing fourth outright, likewise 2024 Queensland champion Jan Kraaj #40 who rounded out the Don River Dash top five, and Ultimate class podium.
Photo credit: Show ‘n’ Go Media
Daniel Avenell and Wiremu Hinga #652 crossed in sixth outright, with the Class 6 runners-up completing the gruelling event just eight seconds ahead of Class 4 winners Steven Von Pein and Ashley Carvolth #422.
Shaun Dagan and Jack Rosevear #669 recovered from an unfortunate incident on Sunday to secure third place in Class 6, while Leigh and Daniel Piggott #644, along with Rob Knight and Matthew Leonard #655 completed the Don River Dash top ten.
In other results, championship leader David Loughnan #104 outlasted newcomer Lachie Hill #127, and Tony Fehlhaber #138 to claim Class 1 honours, with just 2.31mins separating the three crews after they all battled issues over the weekend.
Photo credit: Show ‘n’ Go Media
Burdekin Club President Michael Marson #1032 broke through for his first Class 10 title at the Don, outlasting Chris Sollitt #1063, and Ben Power #1060, while Michael Ranson #507 and Ashley Weinert #515 were awarded Class 5 silverware despite their early exits.
Goondiwindi locals Jamie Knight and Patrick Buggie #439 were the third-fastest car down the riverbed on Sunday, but an issue on Saturday saw them settle for second in Class 4, with brother Symon Knight and Joe Brown #475 claiming third.
Peter Makeham #1122, Emerson Madderom #1169, and John Madderom #1111 enjoyed the spoils in Class 11, while Stuart Zlotkowski #811 in the famous Gold Brumby and Justin Renew #808 claimed second and third behind Comiskey in Class 8.
Photo credit: Show ‘n’ Go Media
It was an impressive weekend for Hectic Racing’s Savanna Madderom #605 who topped both the Ladies and Juniors classes behind the wheel of the team’s Can-Am Maverick R.
Hectic Racing’s Jane McPherson #618 and Emerson Madderom #1169 joined Savanna on the Ladies podium, while Emerson Madderom #1169 and Trent Callander #99 secured the remaining Juniors silverware.
After watching several notables fall away on Saturday morning including Talbot Cox #16, Shannon McNab #1170, Dave Muir #433, Kent Battle #31, Trent Callander #99, Michael Ranson #507 and Nick Pye #629, Sunday’s attrition rate was just as high.
Photo credit: Show ‘n’ Go Media
Overnight leader Tom Owen #30, Michael Zacka #51, Symon Knight #475, Steven Kildey #484, Col Desbrow #481, Tim Liston #617, Rob Wearing #440, Richard Hacon #86, and Jake Menke #666 all bowed out during Sunday’s three lap section.
The 2026 Custom Lithium Don River Dash was made possible by the support of naming right sponsor, Custom Lithium; plus, livestream sponsors RGM maintenance and Mercedes Benz Trucks.
Another huge thank you goes to the event’s Gold Sponsors, Abbot Point Operations, Rocks Farming Company, Pat McDonnell Earthmoving and Whitsunday Ag Services, as well as all the other valued sponsors who supported the Don River Dash through both financial and in-kind contributions.
Photo credit: Show ‘n’ Go Media
The AORRA Queensland Championship would again like to acknowledge their naming rights sponsors, ARB 4×4 Accessories and Mickey Thompson Tyres, along with Link ECU, JSW Powersports, Best Western Plus Hotel North Lakes, Farm and Garden Polaris, Comiskey Mining Services, and Premium Soil Conditioners & Fertilisers for their support.
The 2026 ARB Mickey Thompson Queensland Offroad Racing Championship will now turn its attention to the ninth and final round, the Dam Buster at St George, held over the 3rd-4th of October.
By TC Media
Pics courtesy of Show ‘n’ Go Media
