Cemetery Circuit: Boxing Day motorbike street racing under cloudy skies in Whanganui

The McPhee family from Wellington at the Cemetery Circuit for the first time. Photo / Mike Tweed

Punters at Whanganui’s famed Cemetery Circuit motorcycle races got the best street in the house, without the typical Boxing Day scorching heat.

The final round of the 2025 Suzuki International Series headlined the annual event, but there was racing all day, including F1 and F2 sidecars, classic sidecars, and junior and senior Formula Sport.

The feature race was for the Robert Holden Memorial trophy, won last year by Mitch Rees.

It was the first time at the event for the McPhee family from Wellington.

Alex McPhee said husband Scott talked about going to the event every year.

“Now the kids are a bit older, we’re finally doing it,” she said.

Scott McPhee said he and sons Cole and Oscar rode dirt bikes, with Alex as “pit mum”.

“I haven’t been to Whanganui since I was about 12,” he said.

“This is the first day of our holiday, and, after this, we’re heading north.”

Whanganui’s Allan Gibson said he came to the event every year: “It’s a good time”.

Bikes in the Formula Sport class hit the track at the Cemetery Circuit. Photo / Mike Tweed

“There’s a great variety here, from your average track bike right through to Supermoto,” Gibson said.

“Normally, we come and watch, then go for a ride on the dirt bikes afterwards. It makes for a nice day.”

BNT Whanganui manager Brian Simpson said he was on site at 7am.

The branch is on the corner of Wilson St and Taupō Quay, next to the track.

“We’ve got to get here early to put the gazebos up, and we’ll be here right to the end,” Simpson said.

“I just love bike racing.”

Simpson said the company gave around $3500 worth of cable ties to the Cemetery Circuit this year.

“But thank God we didn’t have to put them all in. That’s Flea’s (organiser Alan Willacy’s) problem.”

Cemetery Circuit fans (from left) Allan Gibson, Meadow McGrail and Baylana Tagoai. Photo / Mike Tweed

The circuit takes riders through Ridgway St, Wilson St, Taupō Quay, Heads Rd and Guyton St and 2025 marked the 74th edition of the event.

This year, Mitch Rees was aiming for a fifth-straight Suzuki International Series crown.

Rees also won the Robert Holden Memorial feature race in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Formula Sport racers on the track at this year's Cemetery Circuit. Photo / Mike Tweed

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present, his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.