Back-to-back titles for teen rider
Southland teenage motorcycle racing star Cormac Buchanan has showcased his immense talents by claiming back-to-back national titles.
The 17-year-old has been in dominant form in his Supersport 600cc class this season, winning 15 of 21 races to wrap up his class, which is part of the New Zealand Superbike Championship series.
Racing on his Yamaha YZF-R6 600 bike, Buchanan wrapped up the series at his home track, Invercargill’s Teretonga Park raceway, during February 10-11 as part of the Burt Munro Challenge weekend.
The final round of the NZ Superbike series will take place at Waikato’s Hampton Downs Motorsport Park during March 2-3.
Buchanan’s performance at Teretonga was the perfect way to thank his supporters.
“It was really good to wrap it up with a round to spare. Knowing I can go into the final round without that added pressure is a real bonus,” he said.
“There’s nothing better than racing at home, so to have gone out there and wrapped up the national title on my home track was special.”
Buchanan has no intention of taking his hand off the throttle in Waikato.
“My goal at the start of the season was to get over 400 points, so to do that, I need to go out there and win every race at Hampton. And to get the lap record there would be pretty cool as well.
“A year and one month ago, I managed my first race win at Teretonga in the class. I have just claimed my 22nd victory and second championship for the class.”
“There’s nothing better than racing at home, so to have gone out there and wrapped up the national title on my home track was special.” Cormac Buchanan
To win in front of fans at home in Invercargill was special, but one race victory sticks out for him more than most – at Timaru back in January.
“I fell off my bike, and had to run back to the pits and get the spare bike. So to do that and still manage to win the race was really special ... It made it difficult, but it was a great race.
“This season, a lot of them have come down to last-lap battles. It’s been very exciting racing.”
Buchanan said he was pleased with his performances on the bike this season.
“It’s a really big step up from last year. We’ve got Hampton to come – a track I did
really well on last year, but I think I am a lot faster than 12 months ago, and reckon I can go even quicker.”
He has picked up four lap records at Taupō, Timaru, Teretonga and Manfeild, with hopes of making it five at Hampton Downs.
“I went into [Teretonga] confident, knowing that I could seal the championship. When we got disqualified in the opening race, it made it more difficult. It just meant I had to go out there and win the next two races.”
At Hampton Downs, the Damon Rees Memorial will be up for grabs, and it is something Buchanan wants to win.
“Me and Damo were quite close. He was always a good mentor and idol to me ... Hopefully, we can win it in his honour.”
He also won the Canterbury Flat Track Speedway title at Moore Park Speedway in West Melton last weekend.
“You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face ... I definitely want to give it a bit more of a go before heading back to Europe.”
Buchanan will contest the 2024 FIM JuniorGP World Championship in Europe for the second successive year. He will be racing for leading Spanish team AGR Racing in his second full campaign in Europe.