By Andy McGechan
The popular annual three-round Suzuki International Series, including the world-renowned Cemetery Circuit street race event in Whanganui on Boxing Day, kicks off this busiest time of the year for New Zealand’s elite motorcycle road-racers.
The opening round of the series at the Taupo International Motorsport Park on the weekend of December 6-7, followed a week later, on December 13-14, at Manfield Circuit Chris Amon, on the outskirts of Feilding.
It wraps up, as always, with the spectacular finale on the public streets of Whanganui – the world-famous Cemetery Circuit – on Boxing Day.
Started in 2008, this year’s 17th annual Suzuki International Series – it skipped a year in 2021 due to the COVID-019 pandemic – is again expected to attract top world-class riders.
It’s fair to say that the Suzuki International Series has become such an iconic competition in this part of the world, with the traditional post-Christmas “street fight” perhaps the jewel in the crown for motorcycle road-racing in New Zealand.
It will again be celebrated as the Southern Hemisphere’s premier “round the houses” race meeting, sponsored of course by Suzuki New Zealand, but again too with additional high-profile financial support from Oceania’s leading freight and logistics provider Mondiale VGL.
Suzuki International Series organiser Allan ‘Flea’ Willacy said he was thrilled to be able “to work with so many great people” to make this series happen again in 2025.
“It’s fantastic to have this continued support from Suzuki New Zealand,” he said.
“The support we have had from Suzuki over the years has been tremendous and this is a competition that has grown in leaps and bounds since its inaugural running in December 2008.
“Suzuki also provide us with a pace car to use on the purpose-built race circuits and around the Whanganui street circuit too and, such is their generosity, this is available for us to use all year round too as we vigorously promote the series.”
Keeping alive the long-standing tradition of the Suzuki International Series in the past, Willacy revealed there is also keen interest being shown again by visiting international star riders.
Willacy said he was not at liberty to divulge names of such individuals yet, with small details still to be ironed out, but “there are several world class riders lining up to get on board” with the Suzuki International Series this year.
Motorcycle road-racing in New Zealand is always edge-of-the-seat excitement and, for the 2025 season, it will again be a massive adrenaline rush for all concerned, racers and spectators alike.
Willacy said the calibre of riders expected from overseas, while impressive, won’t discourage or intimidate the local riders in the slightest because “Kiwis really can fly … and they’ve proven on many occasions they are the equal of any of the top international stars”.
“We are so happy that Suzuki is allowing us to provide a platform for motorcycle racing of the highest order,” said Willacy.
“The inclusive nature of the international series class rules allow club riders to compete alongside seasoned campaigners and these events are a launching pad for many of our up-and-coming competitors.
“The various bike classes that are offered by this series cater for all motorcycle owners out there and we know this leads to the high participation numbers that we see in the Suzuki International Series each year. That’s what we’re all about, offering something for everyone.”
For more than half a century the barriers have been put up for this world-renowned motorcycle “street fight”, with FIM-approved spectator safety fencing laid out along the gutters of Whanganui’s public streets.
• Round 1, Taupo, Dec 6-7;
• Round 2, Manfeild, Feilding, Dec 13-14;
• Round 3, Whanganui’s Cemetery Circuit, Dec 26.