The Christmas rush may be over by December 25, but for hundreds of New Zealand’s top motorcycle racers and thousands of fans, the pace is only about to intensify.

Whanganui’s world famous Cemetery Circuit will once again thunder to life on Boxing Day, hosting the third and final round of the 2025 Suzuki International Series – a tradition that has turned the city’s streets into a high‑speed raceway for more than 70 years.

For one day only, public roads will become a closed circuit as riders blast down Ridgeway St, sweep through Wilson St, Taupō Quay and Heads Rd, then loop back around Guyton St at speeds often exceeding 200km/h.

Stop signs, centre lines and road rules become irrelevant, replaced with straw bales, safety fencing and razor‑sharp racecraft.

Since 1951, Whanganui has transformed itself each Boxing Day into a unique and globally admired “motorcycle street fight”, one of the few true road‑race events of its kind still running anywhere in the world.

The course even carries riders past headstones on the edge of the city cemetery, adding to the event’s mythic status.

This year’s series opened at Taupō International Motorsport Park in early December, followed by round two at Manfeild in Feilding a week later. Now, only the legendary Cemetery Circuit showdown remains – the traditional post‑Christmas spectacle that sees crowds pack the barriers for a final burst of motorsport before New Year celebrations begin.

Rees chasing history

Bay of Plenty rider and reigning New Zealand superbike champion Mitch Rees arrives in Whanganui as the man to beat.

The Whakatāne rider leads the premier 1000cc Formula One class and is chasing an extraordinary fifth straight series crown.

Rees has won the Formula One title in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 (the series did not run in 2021 due to Covid‑19) and will be acutely aware of both the opportunity and the risks that come with racing on public streets.

Adding to the family legacy, Rees has also dominated the prestigious Robert Holden Memorial feature race in recent years, winning in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

His late brother Damon claimed the trophy in 2020, and their father – Whakatāne legend Tony Rees – won it seven times between 1990 and 2016.

This year, however, the family rivalry ends before it begins.

Tony Rees, 58, crashed during round two at Manfeild less than two weeks ago and will miss the Boxing Day finale with a broken ankle.

“I haven’t had too many broken bones over the years,” he said this week.

“But when you’re pushing hard, sometimes it goes wrong. Even the best riders in the world can crash.”

With Tony sidelined, Upper Hutt’s Rogan Chandler looms as Mitch Rees’ biggest threat, sitting just three points behind as racing begins on Friday morning.

A festival of speed across all classes

While the superbikes command top billing, every class promises fierce competition around the tight, technical Cemetery Circuit – including a strong showing from Whanganui crews in Formula One, Formula Two and the popular Pre‑82 classic sidecars.

The opening two rounds in Taupō and Feilding delivered close racing, enthusiastic crowds and near‑perfect conditions, reinforcing why fans, sponsors and supporters continue to treat the series as a highlight on New Zealand’s motorsport calendar.

“It’s been a fantastic series so far, with great racing throughout the classes,” Suzuki International Series organiser Allan “Flea” Willacy said.

“The competition has been good. The weather’s been perfect and we’ve seen great crowds. The local heroes, and the overseas competitors too, have not let us down and they’ve put on a great show.

“We’re all looking forward now to the final round.”

Leaders after two rounds in the 2025 Suzuki International Series are:

Whakatane’s Mitch Rees (formula one); Auckland’s Cameron Leslie (formula two/supersport 600); Silverdale’s Tyler King (formula three); Silverdale’s Tyler King (supersport 300); Paraparaumu’s Richard Markham-Barrett (formula sport, senior, over-600cc); Feilding’s Jordan Walters (formula sport, junior, up to 600cc); Auckland’s Paul Pavletich (Pre 89 post classics, senior, over-600cc); Auckland’s Scott Findlay (Pre 89, post classics junior, under-600cc); Upper Hutt’s Keiran Mair (Pre 95, post classics senior, over-600cc); Te Awanga’s Eddie Kattenberg (Pre 95, post classics junior, under-600cc); Tokomaru’s Barry Smith/Whanganui’s Louise Blythe and Panmure’s Adam Unsworth/Whanganui’s Bryce Rose (F1 sidecars) first equal; Whanganui’s Tracey Bryan & Jo Franzen (F2 sidecars); Whanganui’s Richie Dibben (supermoto).

-Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com