New Zealand’s Cormac Buchanan achieved a significant milestone in his emerging Moto3 career by securing his first top-10 finish in the World Championship at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, earlier today.
The 18-year-old rider from Southland demonstrated remarkable skill and determination, navigating the challenging 5.5-kilometre circuit to claim 10th place in a fiercely competitive field.
“Such a great feeling to get my first top 10 here in the World Championship here in COTA; coming into the weekend, we knew this track is one of the most difficult to learn. But my team and I worked hard to arrive at the race in the best way possible,” said Buchanan
Buchanan’s journey to this achievement has been marked by rapid progression and dedication. After debuting in road racing in 2019, he quickly amassed six New Zealand championships. His talent earned him opportunities to compete in Europe over the past four years, participating in prestigious series such as the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and the FIM JuniorGP World Championship.
In the 2024 season with AGR Racing, Buchanan secured two podiums, a pole position, and five top-five finishes, culminating in a fifth-place overall standing in the JuniorGP series.
These accomplishments paved the way for his historic entry into the 2025 Moto3 World Championship with the BOE Motorsports team, making him the first New Zealander to secure a full-time contract in the series. Reflecting on this opportunity, Buchanan expressed his commitment to continuous improvement and his aspiration to compete for points in his rookie year consistently.
The Circuit of the Americas, known for its technical complexity and demanding layout, tested Buchanan’s adaptability and resilience. His 10th-place finish not only adds valuable points to his championship campaign but also signals his potential to be a formidable competitor on the world stage.
“At the start of the race, I just stayed calm. Knowing that it would be quite hectic, I focused on moving forward progressively. I saw the riders around me overworking their tyres, so I knew staying patient was key.
“In the last half of the race, I was able to raise my pace to catch up to the group battling for 7th; despite the tyre being quite worn, I was able to use my late race speed to get into the battle and move forward.
“I could read the race well and knew when I had to overtake certain riders as they were being distanced from the group. I just ran out of time to move forward more, but I am happy as I made a step not only in my race pace from qualifying but also in my race and tyre management.
“This weekend as a whole has been a big step forward, a memorable weekend, and it’s important to enjoy this moment, but as always, we want more; we need to stay grounded and focused on the process we are doing. Back to Barcelona and back to work to make that next step in Qatar,” said Buchanan
As the Moto3 season progresses, Buchanan’s performance in Austin is a promising indicator of his growth and bright future in international motorcycle racing. Moto3 has a two-week break before returning to Losail International Circuit, with the race taking place on Monday, April 14th, at 2 a.m. NZT.
Header Image: Cormac Racing Facebook
