A massive gathering of the elite of motorcycle road racing assembled in Taupō at the weekend to mark the start of the 2025 Suzuki International Series.

Under a hot and cloudless sky, a bumper crowd of spectators was wowed by the world-class racing.

Talented riders from the USA, the UK and Australia added to the pool of local talent.

Defending Suzuki International Series champion in the premier 1000cc Formula One class, Whakatāne’s Mitch Rees, 32, was always going to be among the favourites.

He lived up to that billing when he fended off challenges from his father, Tony Rees, Upper Hutt’s Rogan Chandler, Porirua’s Rhys Lindsay and Auckland’s Dave Sharp.

Mitch Rees qualified fastest and finished the weekend unbeaten in the three F1 races that followed, enough to eclipse his father and Chandler, who claimed second and third place respectively.

“It was a great way to start the series. I’m aiming to make it five titles in a row and that’d be [a] pretty cool thing to do,” Mitch Rees said.

He won the premier class in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Tony Rees said he didn’t mind placing second.

“It’s great to see Mitch win. It doesn’t bother me at all getting beaten by him. If I’m getting beaten by my boy, then it means I’ve done my job.”

Auckland’s Cameron Leslie won the Formula Two/Supersport 600 class, finishing 1-2-2 in his three races over the two days, with Bulls rider Ashton Hughes and current New Zealand 600cc Supersport champion Jake Lewis, of Christchurch, completing the podium.

It was a sensational weekend for Whakatāne father-and-son Honda teammates Tony Rees (left) and Mitch Rees as they finished first and second in the premier 1000cc Formula One superbike class at the Taupō International Motorsport Park. Photo / Andy McGechan

The F1 and F2 categories were two of 13 being contested at the weekend.

After last weekend’s opening round at Taupō, the racing now heads to Manfeild for round two across December 13-14.

Started in 2008, this year’s 17th annual Suzuki International Series culminates, as usual, with the world-renowned Cemetery Circuit street race in Whanganui on Boxing Day.