Don River Dash Returns With Racers Keen

Testing riders’ endurance and skills, the Don River Dash is back on for September 2023.

For two days, Bowen’s Don River is transformed into a unique and completely off-road track, through 50km of mud, sand, rocks, and jumps.

Katie Robinson first took on the track in 2021, her first ever motorcycle race.

Katie, from Eton, just south of Mackay, is an amateur motorbike rider and decided to take on the Don River Dash in 2021 on a whim, coming out third in the women’s bikes.

The Don River Dash’s course is ever changing, due to rainfall and water flow, which attracts a myriad of racers, from amateur to professionals with an array of sponsorship, including Dean Ferris, Lian Walsh and Toby Price.

Adding to the difficulty, 80 buggies race through the riverbed in the morning of the second day, reducing the track away and making it unrecognisable to riders.

Katie believes that mindset plays the biggest part in rider’s performance in the race.

“I think the main challenge we face is mindset,” she explained.

“The right mindset has a huge impact. How do we think? How do we believe in ourselves? How can you concentrate? Think of other influences, or can you focus your concentration on only yourself and your riding. Everyone is racing under the same conditions in the allocated time frame. You can’t win the race on the first lap, but you can lose it. Self-doubt keeps you in your comfort zone,” Katie said.

Katie is aided by her partner Justin, often working alongside each other on their bikes.

“In one section of the track, I drowned my bike in a water crossing, wetting my spark plug.

“I remember looking down at my bike, re-gathering focus and energy, I noticed that Justin had written on my bar pad the word ‘breathe’.

“Seeing that note quickly reminded me to maintain focus and confidence.”

Women competing in motorsport and in the Don River Dash is growing, and Katie is excited.

“It’s not all about speed, so it doesn’t matter if you’re not the fastest. The results won’t happen overnight.

“And at the end of the race, shiny cup or not, we’ll have a beer, and we will celebrate the good, the bad, the ugly, and the safe return to the pits.”

Some tips from Katie for other women wanting to get on the bike:

- Mindset is everything

- Manage your stress, it will affect your ability to concentrate otherwise

- Remember to breathe

- Visualise your performance before the race – ride the track in your mind and go over your technique

- Winning isn’t just the podium finishes, it's improving lap times, gaining confidence, and walking away knowing you raced as hard as you could.

- No hour spent on the bike is wasted, gear up!

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Katie Robinson often works side-by-side with partner Justin, working of bikes and preparing for the race

2021 was Katie’s first Don River Dash, coming third for women’s racers. Photos supplied