Buchanan confirms European programme

Invercargill rider Cormac Buchanan. PHOTO: AARON STAPLES PHOTOGRAPHY
Invercargill rider Cormac Buchanan. PHOTO: AARON STAPLES PHOTOGRAPHY
Southland racer Cormac Buchanan will contest two championships in Europe next year.

Buchanan (15) has signed with leading Spanish team AGR Racing to compete in the European Talent Cup at the FIM JuniorGP, doubling his international racing commitments.

He will also return to the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup ranks after impressing in his debut season racing the Moto3 machines this year.

“To say I’m excited about this opportunity with AGR Racing would be one heck of an understatement," Buchanan said.

“My debut season in Europe this year was my first experience riding Moto3 bikes, so the focus was on learning and identifying key areas which will enable me to continue developing as a racer.

"AGR ticks all the boxes and I’m excited to soak up as much knowledge as I can from my team-mates and the crew to hone my racing further."

The European Talent Cup is hailed as one of the world’s leading junior championships and will feature seven rounds at circuits in Spain and Portugal from May to October.

“The racing in the European Talent Cup is definitely intense and will give me the tough competition I need," Buchanan said.

"I’m totally pumped to get the season started with the aim of consistently improving to achieve the maximum results for me and the team. I want to reward the faith they have shown in me by giving me this incredible opportunity."

The 2022 AGR team has riders hailing from the United Kingdom, Holland, Italy, Canada and Australia competing across the Moto2, Moto3 and ETC classes of the FIM JuniorGP.

Buchanan’s Red Bull Rookies Cup duties will have him racing at MotoGP World Championship events in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Finland and Austria against 25 of world’s best young riders.

“There’s no denying it was tough this season learning a new bike and completely new circuits but I’m proud the progress I made.

"Next year it will all be that bit more familiar and I can’t wait to get back among it all.

“I’ve had a taste of it and I’m under no illusions as to the challenge ahead but I’m up for it and training hard while I’m home during the off-season."

Buchanan is focused on racing in New Zealand for the Yamaha Racing Development Team and will contest the Southern Race Series at Ruapuna in January.

On February 12-13, he is back on home turf at Teretonga Park, near Invercargill, for the Yamaha Sprint Races—– a two-day event which doubles as a fundraiser for his European campaign.

The opening two rounds of the New Zealand Superbike Championship will be in March at Hampton Downs and Taupo.

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