Motorsport: Cormac Buchanan puts NZ back on MotoGP map after 25 years

Teenager Cormac Buchanan will race full-time in the FIM Moto3 world championship next year. Photo / Manu Tormo Photography

New Zealand has a rider in the FIM MotoGP world championships for the first time in almost 25 years.

Southland-based two-wheel racer Cormac Buchanan will become the first Kiwi to compete in the FIM Moto3 world championship.

Proving himself in the FIM JuniorGP world championship in Europe this year earned the 18 year old a gig with the BOE Motorsports team to contest the full season in 2025, with 22 Grand Prix races in 18 countries.

This major achievement marks the return of a Kiwi motorcyclist to the top table fulltime since Simon Crafar raced in the 500cc world championship almost 25 years ago.

“It’s a bit of a relief to get it done [contract for next year] knowing how hard it is to get into Moto3, knowing the limited number of places there are,” Buchanan said.

“This season was by far my best in Europe and one thing led to another. A Moto3 contract was my goal for this year and to tick that off is really great.

“Ultimately I want to get to MotoGP [the top category] and be world champion, so this is the first step in making sure I can get there.

“Sometimes it doesn’t seem real but it’s been my goal for a long time now. It’s not really a dream come true quite yet, as I’m in Moto3 now and still have to get through Moto2 and then into MotoGP proper.

“Even if I win the Moto3 championship, it’s still not a dream come true, as it’s just the first step. It’s important to take each step towards my ultimate goal.”

Buchanan is a relative latecomer to road racing, starting in earnest only five years ago. In that short time, he has amassed six New Zealand titles and raced part-time in Europe for the past four years, going up against some of the world’s best young riders as part of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies’ Cup and FIM JuniorGP world championship.

This year, Buchanan was part of the AGR Racing team, where he scored two podiums, a pole position and five top-five finishes to end the season sixth overall, despite not contesting all the races.

This success at such an early stage of his career attracted BOE Motorsports owner Jose Angel Gutierrez Boe to recruit the young Kiwi.

“I’ve only been racing for five years up against guys who have been doing it a lot longer, since they were 4 year olds.

“To be at this level after five years, the team knows I have a lot more space to improve and I’m in the right environment for that. This team is really focused on developing me into a world championship-winning rider and this gives me great confidence heading into next year.

“Results don’t happen overnight and the team know that. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to be on the podium straight away, but the team know that over time, I’ll get better with more experience at this level.”

Boe is excited about having Buchanan alongside teammate Ruche Moodley and reckoned having such great talent on board can only bode well for the future.

“We’ll begin the season with the intention of helping both riders learn and become familiar with the MotoGP environment, gradually supporting them to grow and improve their results,” said Boe.

“What excited me the most was working again with young riders, rookies, who are stepping up to the world championship with enthusiasm and a strong desire to learn and improve quickly.

“From the first meeting I had with Cormac and his family, I realised the decision to have him with us on the team was the right one.

“Next year, we will have an excellent atmosphere in the box, with both riders, and working with people who have passion and respect for all the team members is a winning formula.”