KIWI CHAMPION MITCH REES SET TO MAKE BRIGGS EQUIPMENT NORTH WEST 200 DEBUT WITH MILENCO PADGETTS HONDA SQUAD

Clive Padgett’s Milenco-backed Honda squad is one of road racing’s leading teams having fielded an illustrious list of star names down the years such as Mike Hailwood, Phil Read, Steve Hislop, Dave Leach, Jim Moodie, John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson and Bruce Anstey on their machinery.

A former racer himself, Clive knows what it takes to become a successful between the hedges competitor- and the dangers involved. A teenage British champion, Clive’s own racing career was cut short by a serious arm injury. In 1986 the Yorkshire family suffered further tragedy when Clive’s younger brother, Gary- a Manx GP and double TT winner- lost his life in a road accident.

Perhaps because of those experiences, Clive follows a strict code with regard to the recruitment of riders who will be taking on the risks of road racing.

‘I always wait until the rider approaches me about racing on the roads.’ Clive explains.

‘That way I know they have weighed everything up themselves and have made their own choice.’

That has been his modus operandi with latest recruit, Mitch Rees, who will join Davey Todd in the Milenco Padgetts Honda squad to make his debut at this year’s North West 200.  The duo visited the north coast this week for Mitch’s first view of the famous 8.9 mile Triangle course.

The Rees name may be one that few fans on this side of the planet was familiar with before the three-time New Zealand Superbike champion inflicted defeat upon 2024 TT winners, Davey Todd and Peter Hickman, around Wanganui’s famous Cemetery Circuit last Boxing Day.

Having nurtured Todd to his first NW200 victory, Clive understood just how impressive those performances by Rees were.

Racing since he was just three years old, the 31-year-old Kiwi competed alongside his older brother Damon and their three-time New Zealand Superbike champion Dad, Tony, throughout his career. (Sadly, Damon passed away due to a non-racing illness in 2023 after travelling to the UK to compete in the BSB series.)

Currently holding the lap records at five of the seven New Zealand race circuits, Mitch has claimed three national Superbike titles while dominating the Cemetery Circuit Series against all-comers over the last four years. It is a record that has inspired the wily Padgett’s race boss to take a punt on Rees during a time when home-grown talent is becoming harder to find in road racing.

‘Mitch is mature and knows the racing game.’ Clive says.

‘He knows that the NW200 and TT are a whole different kettle of fish to what he is used to in New Zealand but he wants to learn and build for the future and I think our team can help him to do that.’

The Kiwi racer has already forged a strong connection with the Yorkshire squad.

‘Mitch knows Davey so there will be a familiar face in the team when he arrives to help him feel at home but we can’t promise he will have as much sunshine as he is used to at home!’ Clive smiles.

Rees recently travelled to Northern Ireland to view the North West 200 course with new team-mate, Davey Todd.

‘I enjoy street circuits.’ the Kiwi racer explained after completing a lap of the famous 8.9 mile Triangle course linking Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine on Northern Ireland’s north coast.

‘I found them terrifying at first but I learned to make them flow and I started to have some fun. These roads are very different to the New Zealand tracks though. None of them at home are this long or as fast.’

Rees had done some homework before making the trip, watching race videos and playing the computer game, but the Kiwi admitted he would have to ‘take his time’ to learn his way round as he would be ‘racing in the company of the best road racers and British championship riders in the business’.

Most of his racing experience and success at home in New Zealand has come on 1000cc machinery and Rees will focus his attention on a Milenco Padgetts CBR1000RR Honda in Superstock-spec at Portrush.

‘That will make life easier because that is what I am familiar with.’ he explained.

‘And racing with the Padgett’s team will also make it easier for me because they have so much knowledge and experience.’

Rees says he doesn’t have a particular goal in mind for his NW200 debut beyond learning the circuit and getting around safely.

‘I have no expectation of any kind of a result for this year.’ he said.

‘There is so much to learn so I want to do that with minimal risk and come back next year with a plan.’