TT DIARY – DAY 3: Rees roars into rest day at the TT trending and talked about
'Everybody you speak to who's ridden with Mitch rates the fella'. Kiwi continues to impress as racing at the Isle of Man TT looms.
By Kent Gray
Free Practice and three qualifying sessions. Sixteen laps across three days on two humming Hondas in nigh on perfect conditions. A fraction off his fastest lap of the fabled Mountain course, unofficially of course. Glowing references from all and sundry on the TT+ live stream coverage.
Mitch Rees is trending nicely at the 115th Isle of Man TT, thank you very much.
The Whakatāne 33-year-old has thoroughly earned Thursday’s rest day after a combined 971.52km of learning and improving speed on his Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade stocker Superbike and CBR600 Supersport entry.
Riding for the Batley-based Milenco by Padgett’s Racing Team, the 2025 Vernon Cooper Trophy newcomer winner’s headline numbers are encouraging.
On the Supersport CBR600, he’s clocked best laps of 119.203, 122.641 and 122.063mph for 16th, 12th and 10th place on the time sheets across Tuesday and Wednesday’s qualifying sessions.
On the 1000, he’s gone 122.882, 126.02 and 125.754mph. Wednesday morning’s 126.02mph effort is closing in on his debut year best of 126.8mph although official lap times count only in the second week of racing, which Rees must be looking forward to now.
“Doing everything right is Mitch, for me, everything we’ve seen of him…”
Racing begins this weekend with the RL360-sponsored Superstock TT Race 1 on Saturday (where Rees will look to eclipse his 23rd and 19th places in the class on debut last year) before Superbike Sunday with the six-lapper RST Superbike TT.
Before that, there’s two final sessions of qualifying on Friday and ample time for The Final Sector to amplify the progress being made by arguably New Zealand’s most under-rated elite sportsman, via the TT+ commentary team experts.
This from analyst Jamie Whitham, a 10 year TT veteran between 1990 and 2000 who campaigned in the era of Carl Fogarty, Steve Hislop and the mighty Joey Dunlop.
“Yip, doing everything right is Mitch, for me, everything we’ve seen of him,” Whitham said in his syrupy thick, northern Yorkshire accent.
Later in a Supersport (CBR600) session, Whitham bounced back and forth with co-analyst Tom Birchall, the most successful passenger in TT history with 14 sidecar wins alongside his older brother Ben.
“Just looks like he’s been here for 10 years in a row, never mind this being his second year.”
Whitham: “We, me and Tom, just got some lovely shots of him [Rees] towards the end of the lap going down to the Nook and Sign Post…we just watched a shot of him going round Sign Post and he just looks classic.”
Birchall: “Yeah, straight behind the bubble, isn’t he. And letting the bike run. Just looks like he’s been here for 10 years in a row, never mind this being his second year. And maybe just with the smaller bike, things can just get processed a little bit better and a little bit quicker than, you know, the big 1000cc bikes. It’s probably been great for a different perspective, different point of view.”
Down in pit lane, two-time TT winning Aussie Cameron Donald helped put Rees’ ride on the CBR600 into context after his 122.641mph lap in Q2.
“I think he was telling me the last time he rode one was like 2017, he’s pretty much spent all his time on 1000s and he’s in 12th, just outside that top 10 with a really respectable time in anyone’s terms, let alone someone who’s a newcomer to Supersport here and only his second year. And he got very few laps last year with that poor weather so this will be great for him.”
Rees would go on to crack the top-10, right on the bubble, in Supersport Q3. And the warm fuzzies kept flowing upstairs in the commentary booth, triggered by Birchall.
“I mean, it’s so good for Mitch this year to have the weather because last year’s newcomer year…,” Birchall said before Whitham jumped in: “He didn’t have good weather, did he...he hardly got two laps on the bounce.”
“Exactly,” Birchall continued. “So this is just perfect for him. Just get out there and learn the course, learn your lines, and build your speed up through the week.”
Whitham: “Everybody you speak to who’s ridden with Mitch rates the fella.”
Birchall: “Such a calm, cool, collected guy, you know. A little bit wide there at Sign Post, but you know, that’s all part of the learning curve. But yeah, you know, he’s got his family over, his mum [Vicki] and dad [Tony, on the tools], and he’s there with his girlfriend [wife Mihi], in the camp up with Davey Todd and all the guys, John McGuinness and all them people.
“Just a really cool, calm environment and enjoying his TT.”
Rees really is. The three-time NZSBK champion admitted as much in an interview after Wednesday’s first session.
“Mitch, looking very cool in blue out there,” pit lane reporter Grace Webb said. “You must be happy with that lap?”
“Yeah, to be fair, just really enjoying riding in the sun like I said the other day. And nice to get on the little Supersport bike first, just get the brain up to gear, and just really enjoying it,” Rees responded.
Webb: “We saw when you came back into the garage, huddled around people’s phones having a look at the time screens. Is that the first thing you want to look at when you come in?”
“Nah, to be honest, I’m not overly concerned. I’m still in the learning phase and I’m just really trying to just enjoy it. They tell me I’m a high… I don’t even know what a fast time is on a Supersport bike. Well, 130-something by Michael [Dunlop], but yeah, I can’t expect to be anywhere near that.”
Webb: “But you’re chasing a feeling. And how is that bike feeling at the moment?
“Oh, look, the little CBR600 is…you ask any rider and it’s like the easiest, nicest bike to ride. Lacks a little bit of horsepower, but so nice and easy and comfortable to ride. Like, I’m just really enjoying it.”
Webb: “It’s great to hear, Mitch. We’ll let you get back to the team. Thanks so much.”
“Awesome. Thanks, guys.”
“Yeah, really good job there from Mitch Rees,” said anchor Steve Day back up in the booth. “And let’s not forget, the best is yet to come actually on the bigger bikes for the Kiwi.”
Here’s hoping.
All this came after Todd, team boss Clive Padgett and Donald sang Rees’ praises following Monday’s free practice, which you can read in our Day 1 TT Diary here
Rees did take a good-natured ribbing live on air from Todd after stalling his baby-blue livery CBR600 on the start line at the start of one session.
“He thought he got away with that,” Todd said on air.
No chance, not when ya injured pal is in the microphone, as much as he’d prefer to be on the handlebars.
It’s about the Kiwi’s only misstep thus far and punishable by no more than being the target of some promised banter back in the paddock.
If that’s as rough as it gets over this fortnight, the humble mechanic from the Bay of Plenty will take it.
115th Isle of Man TT – Rees’ Week 1 Results
Wednesday
QUALIFYING Session 3
Superbike: Dean Harrison (133.712); 2. Peter Hickman (132.039); 3. John McGuinness (129.775).
Superstock: Josh Brookes (131.943); 2. Ian Hutchinson (130.691); 3. Nathan Harrison (130.24). 13. Mitch Rees (125.754). Best lap: 18:00.107.
Supersport: Micheal Dunlop (129.557); 2. Dean Harrison (125.96); 3. Paul Jordan (125.376). 10. Mitch Rees (122.063). Best lap: 18:32.770.
QUALIFYING Session 2
Superbike: Peter Hickman (131.328); 2. John McGuinness (130.863); 3. Michael Dunlop (130.233).
Superstock: 1. Dean Harrison (133.867); 2. Michael Dunlop (131.952); 3. Nathan Harrison (130.318). 13. Mitch Rees (126.02). Best lap: 17:57.831.
Supersport: 1. Michael Dunlop 128.315 17:38.552; 2. Peter Hickman (127.245); 3. Dean Harrison (127.242). 12. Mitch Rees (122.641). Best lap: 18:27.527.
Tuesday
QUALIFYING Session 1
Superbike: 1. Dean Harrison (133.925); 2. Michael Dunlop (130.341); 3. Nathan Harrison (130.01).
Superstock: 1. Josh Brookes (130.197); Peter Hickman (129.42); 3. Jamie Coward (128.702). 24. Mitch Rees (122.882). Best lap: 18:25.354.
Supersport: Michael Dunlop (126.922); 2. Josh Brookes (124.271); 3. Peter Hickman (123.584) 16. Mitch Rees (119.203). Best lap: 18:59.469.