Don River Dash: Multiple reported injuries at Bowen off-road motorcycle festival

Organisers of an increasingly popular off-road festival say the number of injuries was comparatively minor considering the huge number of entries.

Organisers of the Don River Dash festival race near Bowen say the event has pumped an estimated $10m into the local economy. Picture: Supplied

Organisers of an increasingly popular off-road festival that pumped an estimated $10m into the North Queensland economy say the number of injuries was comparatively minor considering the huge number of entries.

Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed on Monday that it had taken five motorcyclists to Bowen Hospital for a range of injuries at the Don River Dash festival race event near Bowen on Sunday, while a sixth had been transported by private means.

A QAS spokeswoman said the injured included a man in his 20s who suffered head and hand injuries, a man in his 30s with back injuries, a man in his 20s with back and abdominal injuries, a man in his 30s with groin injuries and a male teenager with chest injuries.

All were transported in stable conditions, she said.

In its fifth year, the event attracted a record 98 cars, trucks and buggies, as well as 248 motorcyclists aiming to complete 160km circuits in the Don River bed on both Saturday and Sunday.

Burdekin Offroaders Inc Organiser Michael Marson said there were no injuries due to the prevalence of safety equipment such as roll cages.

He said the number of injured motorcyclists was probably less than in 2022, despite the increase in the number of competitors.

The Giru cane farmer said the event involved competitors from every state and territory in Australia.

He said the event also attracted a record 5300 spectators for the show and shine on Friday night, a figure double last year’s, with at least 9000 spectators joining an event livestream at any given time over the weekend.

Mr Marson said the Whitsundays Regional Council estimated the event had injected $7m into the local economy in 2022, a figure that would likely surpass $10m in 2023.

“This year I’d say it would go up to double figures because it was a massive increase in spectators, competitors, everything to do with the event.”

He said it was a hallmark of the event, which had a budget of $335,000 to run, to focus on supporting local businesses wherever possible, particularly given the prevailing economic conditions.

Mr Marson said the event had seven medics on site at the event and had run simulations with Bowen Hospital to prepare for emergencies.

Originally published as Don River Dash: Multiple reported injuries at Bowen off-road motorcycle festival