Mitch Rees cracked the“ triple” once again
It was a record five Suzuki International Series F1 title wins in a row for the just-turned 33-yearold and also the fourth consecutive time he’ s won the all-in RHM race. Rees previously won the formula one class overall in the Suzuki International Series in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024( the series was not run in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
ROBERT HOLDEN MEMORIAL The prestigious RHM race was previously won by Mitch Rees in 2022, 2023 and 2024, by his late brother Damon Rees in 2020 and by their father Tony Rees on seven occasions between 1990 and 2016. It could have been another Rees family battle at the front this year too, with the 58-year-old“ elder statesman” Tony Rees chasing hard early
on in the 2025 series, until an unfortunate crash at Manfeild two weeks earlier sent him to the sidelines and, with a broken ankle, Tony Rees did not race in Whanganui on Boxing Day. Instead, it was rising star Rhys Lindsay, from Porirua, and Taupiri youngster Jesse Stroud who completed the RHM podium. It is interesting to note that Stroud’ s father, Andrew Stroud, was the original winner of the F1 class at the inaugural Suzuki International Series in 2008( and the three years that followed) and Andrew Stroud also won the RHM at Whanganui on two memorable occasions( in 2006 and 2009).
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES One of the most talked-about performances on the Cemetery Circuit this year would possibly be that of Canterbury’ s Harriet Grace. The 24-year-old, a parts and accessories manager at a bike shop in Christchurch, celebrated the first podium visit of her racing career when she finished runner-up in a Supersport 300 class race at Manfeild two weeks previously. However, Grace magnificently went one better at Whanganui on Boxing Day when she won
26 KIWI RIDER