winning both the F1 races at Whanganui . These results were enough to see Mitch Rees finish the series on top of the F1 class , with Tony Rees settling for runner-up , while Todd , fellow 2024 Isle of Man champion Peter Hickman ( BMW ) and Christchurch ’ s Hoogenboezem rounded out the top five . It was Mitch Rees ’ fourth F1 win in a row for this series , having won the F1 class overall in the Suzuki International Series in 2020 , 2022 and 2023 . But more was still to come from the Honda duo , with the fabled Robert Holden Memorial feature race coming up on the day ’ s programme and these two men in red the obvious favourites . As it turned out , Tony Rees was quickest off the start line and led for the first few laps , until Mitch Rees flashed by , with Todd following his example to also nip past Tony Rees a short while later . And that ’ s how the 10-lap feature finished , Mitch Rees again adding the coveted Robert Holden Memorial main prize to his trophy cabinet . It also meant he had added the Robert Holden Memorial feature race win to the ones he had
celebrated in 2022 and last year too , now making it three times in a row that Mitch Rees has won this prestigious trophy . Mitch Rees also set a new lap record for F1 / Superbikes at Whanganui – a startling 47.336 seconds . The Robert Holden Memorial trophy probably holds a special place in the Rees family home , with Mitch Rees ’ late younger brother Damon Rees having also won it in 2020 and it has been won by their father Tony Rees on seven occasions ( between 1990 and 2016 ), the now 57-year-old showing that age truly is just a number . “ My target today was to come here are wrap up the F1 title and also to win the Robert Holden trophy for three times in a row too . It worked out for me ,” said Mitch Rees afterwards . “ Team Rees is on the trophy 11 times now , which is pretty special . But it wasn ’ t as easy as it may have looked . At the start of the day in the wet I wasn ’ t comfortable at all . Davey [ Todd ] had been out already for few sessions in the other classes he was racing , so he had the jump on me there . “ But then it became dry and that suited me .
TT-winner Peter Hickman provided some stiff competition in the series
32 KIWI RIDER