Dan Dunn and Ashton Dale #614 have claimed a spectacular third consecutive victory at the weekends Moranbah Short Course, Round 5 of the 2025 ARB Mickey Thompson Queensland Championship, hosted by Mackay Off Road Racing Inc.

 

In fast dusty conditions, the Charters Towers local produced another brilliant front running performance, surviving a stern test from the Callander’s to complete a hat trick of Moranbah crowns in his Class 6 machine. 

Continuing his incredible North Queensland form, Dunn finished ahead of young gun Trent Callander #99 in his V8 Razorback by 38 seconds, despite losing a wheel off his Can Am X3 on the final corner of the event.

 

Local talent Callander snatched second outright off his father and last year’s runner up Drew #32 who was driving the team’s newly acquired Ford V8 powered Racer. The Callander’s also took home first and second in the Ultimate class, with just 8 seconds separating the pair.

 

 

In the most enthralling Moranbah event to date, only 46 seconds separated the top three contenders: with QLD championship spearhead Aaron Nicoll #665 and Polaris charger Luke Brandon #613 rounding out the outright top five and Class 6 podium. 

 

Jason Keane #1013 recorded his best finish of the season crossing in sixth, the Class 10 champion held off Andrew Murphy #1031 (8th outright) and Brett Baker #1026 in a hotly contested class battle. 

 

Class 6s victor Darren Brandon #689s completed a perfect weekend for DRELLs Run Racing in seventh, with first female home Anna Phillis #624s (10th outright), and the rapidly improving Lara Brandon #690s taking second and third spot.

Darren Angel #160 returned to the Class 1 winners circle in ninth outright, outlasting David Loughnan #104 (power steering seal) and Tony Fehlhaber #138 (delaminated tyre), who both experienced Moranbah setbacks.

 

In other results, Kelvyn Kruger #44 made it back-to-back QLD Ultimate podiums, Colin Gaven #295 claimed the Class 2 win over teammate Mark Andrew #295a, Katelyn Long #6626 secured the Class 66 title over Shaun Bartlem #6616, with Joshua Pile #762 and Future Champions star Jack Musico #6688 both taking class wins. 

Twenty three of the thirty-six starters completed full distance at Moranbah, with notables not to finish including Brayden Mifsud #626, Darren Orr #1015, Guy Hicks #163, Ben Power #1060, and Nigel Pearce #6123.  

 

Outright contenders Kye Camilleri #34 (tyre) and Talbot Cox #16 (oil pump belt) suffered early dramas putting them out contention, however both rallied to finish strong in their Ultimate machines.

The Queensland Off Road Championship would again like to thank major sponsors ARB and Mickey Thompson Tyres, along with other sponsors Link ECU, Comiskey Mining Services, JSW Powersports, Best WesternPlus Hotel North Lakes, Farm and Garden Polaris and Premium Soil Conditioners & Fertilisers for their support in 2025.

 

The ARB Mickey Thompson Queensland Off Road Racing Championship will now turn its attention to Round 6, the 2025 Gundy 500, held over the 8th-10th of August.

By TC Media

Pics courtesy of Moranbah Photographers