By Andy McGechan
So, there are less than two weeks to go now before the flag drops on a massive month of high-class racing action.
Competition organiser Allan ‘Flea’ Willacy is currently putting the final preparations in place for the start of this most popular motorcycle road-race series in the Southern Hemisphere.
Started in 2008, this year’s 17th annual Suzuki International Series – it skipped a year in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic – as usual includes the world-renowned Cemetery Circuit public street race event in Whanganui on Boxing Day, a race day sometimes hailed as the “Isle of Man TT of the Southern Hemisphere”.
This three-round series certainly kicks off the busiest time of the year for New Zealand’s premier motorcycle road-racers and the international elite who will make the trip Downunder.
The opening round of the series at the Taupo International Motorsport Park on the weekend of December 6-7 will again be highly anticipated, with the excitement continuing on at round two at Manfeild, on the outskirts of Feilding, just a week later, on December 13-14.
It wraps up, as always, with the spectacular street race finale on the world-famous Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day, December 26.
Willacy said he was delighted to report that a huge number of entries have again been received this year, with top-calibre riders from all parts of the country, and many from other corners of the world too – mostly from the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia – signing up to accept the ultimate motorcycle road-racing challenge.
“As always, we can expect the competitors to give it everything they have to win, or at least enhance their reputations, and we know that spectators will love the rapid-fire nature of the programme,” said Willacy.
Top riders who will be on show include such superstars as Whakatane father-and-son duo Tony and Mitch Rees, Christchurch’s Alastair Hoogenboezem, Auckland’s Dave Sharp, Silverstream’s Rogan Chandler, Cambridge’s Morgan McLaren-Wood, Whanganui’s Richie Dibben and Luca Durning, Taupiri’s Zak Fuller, Bulls rider Ashton Hughes and Nelson’s Jonny Lewis, to name just a few, and any of these individuals are likely race winners.
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.
The series will again be sponsored, of course, by Suzuki New Zealand, but also with additional high-profile financial support from Oceania’s leading freight and logistics provider Mondiale VGL.
Willacy said he was thrilled to be able “to work with so many great sponsors and others” to make this series happen again in 2025.
“The inclusive nature of the international series class rules allow club-level riders to compete alongside seasoned international campaigners and these races are often a launching pad for many of our up-and-coming competitors,” said Willacy.
“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.
“We can’t thank Suzuki New Zealand enough for the help and financial support they offer to our sport in New Zealand. We have a fantastic series and many young racing careers have been nurtured and have bloomed from this.”
Suzuki New Zealand has supported this series since the inaugural running in 2008 – when Suzuki legend Andrew Stroud won the title – ensuring the series has enjoyed overwhelming popularity over the years.
Motorcycle road-racing in New Zealand is always edge-of-the-seat excitement and it will again be a massive adrenaline rush for all concerned in 2025, for racers and spectators alike.
Spectators can save money by purchasing “early bird tickets” on-line at cemeterycircuit.co.nz before the end of this month.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com