Mitch Rees completes perfect F1 sweep at Burt Munro Challenge 2026

Whakatane’s Mitch Rees (Honda CBR1000RR-R) proved himself unstoppable on the two vastly different race tracks he tackled during the famous Burt Munro Challenge festival week. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

Bay of Plenty superbike star Mitch Rees couldn’t have scripted a better send-off ahead of his 2026 international racing campaign, delivering a flawless performance at the Burt Munro Challenge in Southland.

Thousands of motorcycle riders again made their annual pilgrimage to the 19th annual festival this year and all were rewarded with special memories to cherish.

Rees took his Honda CBR1000RR-R to a perfect run of wins in two separate elements of the week-long extravaganza.

The 33-year-old businessman from Whakatāne, the multi-time and current champion in both the New Zealand Superbike Championships and the popular Suzuki International Series as well, proved to be almost unstoppable at the opening event of the multi-discipline four-day festival on Thursday, despite extra challenges being put in front of him.

Rees headed off Wakefield rider Angus Phyn in the series of sprint races to the top of Bluff Hill, recapturing the trophy he had also collected when he won the same race at the Bluff Hill event the last time he raced there in 2018.

His father, Tony Rees (on an identical Honda CBR1000RR-R), is currently recovering from an injury sustained while racing at Manfeild in December – he won the Bluff Hill race last season (and also in 2023, and 2024) – and he acted as his son’s mechanic during this year’s Burt Munro Challenge.

Meanwhile, the reigning national superbike champion was on a mission at the Teretonga Park, the venue hosting the second round of four in the 2026 New Zealand Superbike Championships (NZSBK), with this separate two-day event being included within the Burt Munro Challenge programme.

However, while the elite 1000cc Formula One and superbike class riders were being raced on the track simultaneously, the two classes were scored separately.

Even so, Mitch Rees qualified fastest rider over both categories at the weekend and, despite a massive delay between when the NZSBK riders were set off at the race start and the Burt Munro F1 riders were released, Rees made short work of powering through the entire gaggle of bikes, impressively winning the first combined race of the weekend.

Rees was further nobbled in the last race on Sunday, the delay increased further between when the NZSBK riders were started and the F1 Burt Munro categories were launched, and he was unfortunately unable to bridge the gap in the short eight-lap race.

Mitch Rees was unbeaten in his four F1 race category outings over Saturday and Sunday, with Richmond rider Heath Botica (Ducati V4S 1100) finishing F1 class runner-up.

“I was forced to start behind the superbike riders and then battle through traffic in all the races, but I had a lot of fun,” said Rees afterwards.

“I set a new track record at the same time.

“I’m going international for the next wee while and that’s why I’m not defending my superbike crown in the nationals this season,” he explained.

“I have the Isle of Man races coming up in May and June, but, before that, I will race a couple of rounds of the British Superbike Championships in early May and also the North-west 200 in Northern Ireland that same month.”

Meanwhile, as regards the off-road brigade, the popular beach race phase of the Burt Munro Challenge again attracted hundreds of riders to Oreti Beach from all over New Zealand and from overseas too.

Southlander Johnny Racz (Honda CRF450, from Otautau) was simply too quick for his rivals, winning the main 50-lap feature race, finishing two laps ahead of runner-up rider Matthew Davies (Husqvarna FC450), of Australia.

With these major event wins ticked off, the Honda brigade certainly had reason to celebrate the Burt Munro Challenge 2026.

-Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com