It’s incredibly tight at the top after the second round of three in the 2025 Suzuki International Series in Manawatū at the weekend.

The popular motorcycling competition heads for a much-anticipated finale on the public streets of Whanganui’s world-renowned Cemetery Circuit on December 26, with racing sure to go right down to the final chequered flag in several of the bike categories.

The tightest of all was the formula one sidecars class where Tokomaru’s Barry Smith, with Whanganui co-pilot Louise Blythe, and Panmure’s Adam Unsworth, with Whanganui co-pilot Bryce Rose, are level on points after the weekend’s two days of racing at Manfeild, on the outskirts of Feilding.

Two of the leading riders in the formula one/superbike class each suffered crashes in separate incidents at Manfeild, Bay of Plenty’s defending champion and class leader Mitch Rees sliding from his bike while leading the F1 race on Saturday, while his father, multi-time former champion Tony Rees, crashed out of race three on Sunday afternoon and, with an ankle injury, he opted not to line up for the re-start.

Consistency from the fast-improving Rogan Chandler, from Upper Hutt, earned him the No 2 position in the F1 standings and he is now just three points adrift of Whakatāne man Mitch Rees.

As for 58-year-old “elder statesman” Tony Rees, he has slipped to third in the rankings, although he is only 11 points behind Chandler.

One of the most impressive riders in the series so far has been Silverdale teenager Tyler King.

Christchurch’s Harriet Grace, left, and Silverdale’s Tyler King share the supersport 300 podium after race three at Manfeild on Sunday. Photo / Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

The 19-year-old leads two of the competition’s 13 bike categories – he is on top in both the formula three and supersport 300 classes – and his current form and momentum will likely see him remain there.

Whanganui’s Richie Dibben has been untouchable this season, the national supermoto champion taking his lightly-modified Suzuki RM-Z450 motocross bike to qualify fastest at both Taupō’s round one and at round two in Feilding and then winning all six races contested, one of them a from-last-to-first masterclass performance.

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 post-Christmas public street race event on Whanganui’s famous Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day.

Leaders after the second round of three in the 2025 Suzuki International Series at Manfeild at the weekend are: Whakatāne’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 Kieran 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).

-By Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com