DECEMBER 11, 2025: The 2025 Suzuki International Series will return to the sport’s global founding roots when the elite of the motorcycle racing community arrive in Feilding this weekend.
The popular three-round competition heads to the “home of superbike racing in New Zealand and worldwide”, the hallowed grounds of Manfeild, for round two of the series this coming Saturday and Sunday.
And, if it is at all possible after last weekend’s spectacular opening round at Taupo, this weekend could rival even that in terms of bike racing thrills and excitement.
The racing was fast and frenetic in all the various bike categories in Taupo last weekend, but the various class leaders know they’ll have a target on their back at Manfeild, the same venue on the outskirts of Feilding that hosted the inaugural World Superbike Championships (WSBK) series finale in 1988 and also hosted the WSBK final round again in 1989, 1990 and 1992.
The defending Suzuki International Series champion in the premier 1000cc formula one/superbike class, Whakatane’s Mitch Rees, dominated his class again with three wins from three starts in Taupo last weekend, but he won’t be able to rest on his laurels with men such as Upper Hutt’s Rogan Chandler, Porirua’s Rhys Lindsay, Auckland’s Dave Sharp and, of course, Rees’ own multi-time former New Zealand championship-winning father, Tony Rees, among others, sure to challenge him at Manfeild.
Whanganui’s Richie Dibben is also certain to delight the crowd with his undeniable skills and speed on the lightly-modified Suzuki RM-Z450 motocross bike he races in the supermoto class.
Dibben is surely a crowd favourite to dominate again, especially after his spectacular performance in the second of three supermoto races at Taupo less than a week ago.
Dibben was late getting to the starting grid for race two and was obliged to start this battle from pit lane, meaning he was forced to enter the track after the last rider in had disappeared around the first corner.
From 19th and last, Dibben quickly went to work.
After just two of the prescribed 10 laps in this race, Dibben (Suzuki RM-Z450) was already up to 13th position and closing fast on the leaders, with Waverley’s Luke Martin in front at that stage.
After four laps, Dibben was up to fifth and, by halfway through lap five, the Whanganui man was in the lead. Dibben went on to win the race by more than 13 seconds from Waverley’s Mark Oliver, with Martin settling for third.
“It was good to get the three wins. I had a good day on the bike and racer two would have made it exciting for the spectators,” said Dibben afterwards, in classic understatement.
“I knew I just had to go hard, charge through the pack, don’t hold back, go fast and pass everybody,” said the 36-year-old father-of-three.
“I’m looking forward to Manfeild this weekend and the Cemetery Curcuit (in Whanganui) on Boxing Day. Racing in front of a home crowd is always a bonus, so I particularly enjoy the Boxing Day races.”
Meanwhile, Auckland’s Cameron Leslie, Bulls rider Ashton Hughes and Christchurch’s current national supersport 600cc champion Jake Lewis, among others, are all locked in a fierce battle for formula two/supersport 600 honours.
Silverdale’s Tyler King hogged the podium in two categories – the formula three and supersport 300 classes – so he will be looking to maintain his momentum at Manfeild.
Started in 2008, this year’s 17th annual Suzuki International Series – it skipped a year in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic – climaxes as usual with the world-renowned Cemetery Circuit public street race event in Whanganui on Boxing Day (December 26).
It is interesting to note that several of those riders who graced Manfeild at those WSBK rounds between 1988 and 1992 are likely to be racing or at least managing or acting as mechanic for other riders at Manfeild this weekend too, albeit now with a few grey hairs and a few more wrinkles, but they still have a huge passion for the sport and will be showing little signs of slowing down.
So, watch out for men such as Te Awanga’s Eddie Kattenberg, Whanganui’s Brian Bernard, Taumarunui’s Russell Josiah and, of course, 57-year-old Hall of Fame legend Tony Rees.
CLASS LEADERS:
Class leaders after the first round of three in the 2025 Suzuki International Series in Taupo at the weekend 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); Wellington’s Malcolm Bielski (formula sport, senior, over-600cc); Whanganui’s Jeff Croot (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); Te Awanga’s Eddie Kattenberg (Pre 95, post classics junior, under-600cc); Upper Hutt’s Kieran Mair (Pre 95, post classics senior, over-600cc); Auckland’s Adam Unsworth & Bryce Rose (F1 sidecars); Whanganui’s Tracey Bryan & Jo Franzen (F2 sidecars); Whanganui’s Richie Dibben (supermoto).
The Suzuki International Series is supported by Suzuki New Zealand, Mondiale VGL, Auto Super Shoppe Tawa, Givi, I-Tools, Bridgestone tyres, Metzeler tyres, Sharp As Linehaul Ltd Whanganui, TSS Motorcycles, Ipone, Inferno Design & Digital, Kiwibike Motorcycle Insurance Specialists, Shark, Barred Up Scaffolding, The Dentists.
DATES FOR 2025 SUZUKI INTERNATIONAL SERIES
- Round 1, Taupo, Dec 6-7;
- Round 2, Manfeild, Feilding, Dec 13-14;
- Round 3, Whanganui’s Cemetery Circuit, Dec 26.
