rider dubbed the “West Coast Warrior”, former
motocross and speedway exponent Clark
Fountain, with Paeroa’s Blake Ross, Taupiri’s
Zak Fuller and Whanganui’s Ollie Dennison also
applying voltage to the highly-charged class.
Other names have popped up as the series
has progressed, including Timaru’s Harry Parker,
Feilding’s Scott Hawkes and Whanganui’s
Cameron Goldfinch, Pukekohe’s Thomas
Newton and Invercargill’s Michael Wilson.
Only six of the seven GIXXER Cup rounds are to
be counted, with riders ditching their worst result.
YOUNG REES GIVES A TASTE OF WHAT’S TO COME
H
onda’s Tony Rees may be down, but
he won’t be out for long and, besides
that, there’s plenty more Rees genetics
keen to step forward. The 2017 national
superbike champion crashed out
at the midway stage of the annual
pre-nationals Suzuki Series competition, the
broken finger that resulted from that spill
also sidelining him from the upcoming four-
round national superbike championships.
While that may prevent the 50-year-old
Whakatane bike shop owner from defending
his national superbike crown, he still fancies his
chances of keeping the Rees name etched on
New Zealand’s premier road-racing trophy.
His eldest of two road-racing sons, Mitchell
Rees, has been something of a revelation this
summer. In just his second season of road-racing
and with barely 20 races in total under his wheels,
the virtual novice has clinched third overall in
the Formula One class in the 2017 Suzuki Series,
which wrapped up with the third and final
round at Whanganui on Boxing Day Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Rees twice finished sixth on
the famous Cemetery Circuit streets circuit at
this traditional post-Christmas race meeting,
earning himself a podium position for the
series, a competition that his father had won
the previous season. While his dad, Tony, and his
younger brother, Damon, were both sidelined
with injury, Mitch Rees ensured there was still
plenty for the Rees camp to smile about.
“It’s disappointing for me, naturally, that I
could not defend my Suzuki Series crown and
that I’ll also be unable to defend my national
superbike championship, but that’s what
happens in racing sometimes, “ said Tony Rees.
“It was the year 2000 that I last broke a
28 KIWI RIDER
bone in racing. I got cleaned out in the first
corner in one of the races (at the Suzuki
Series opener) in Taupo and then I crashed...
my own fault really... and had my hand run
over by another rider (at round two) at
Manfeild. With two DNFs in a six-race series,
I didn’t stand a chance of winning it again.
“But I have a replacement now don’t I? I’m
very proud of what Mitch had achieved and
he’s come on very strong in a very short time.
“Last season was his first ever doing road-
racing, so it’s been a pretty steep learning
curve, but he’s come close to winning races a
few times now. I’m pretty proud of him really.
“Mitch and Damon both learned a lot from
racing in Australia this year and they’ve both
really gelled with the new-model Honda.”
Rees said he expects to be back in action in six
to eight weeks, but, in the meantime, he has “lots
still to organise” for Mitch and Damon to tackle
the 2018 Australian Superbike Championships,
kicking off at Phillips Island in February.
“I’m not sure at what extent Damon will be in
terms of fitness by then, but he’s raring to go.
“We shared a pretty remarkable season at
the end of 2016 and start of 2017... father and
sons competing together, with me winning
the Suzuki Series and then the national
superbike crown and Damon winning the
600cc Supersport title at the nationals.
“The boys are very focussed and we have had
great support from Honda New Zealand. There’s
been a lot of commitment shown by all parties.”
The four-round 2018 New Zealand
Superbike Championships kick off at
Mike Pero Motorsport Park , Christchurch,
on Januar y 7, with rounds to follow at
Timaru, Hampton Downs and Taupo.