Race weekends do not come much better than this for Southland rider Cormac Buchanan.
At the New Zealand Superbike Championship fifth round at Hampton Downs, the fearless teenager started out by scoring pole then remaining unbeaten in both the Supersport 300 and 600 classes.
Buchanan notched up the Supersport 300 lap record and went on to win the New Zealand Tourist Trophy Championship in both classes.
Then he topped it all off by collecting the New Zealand Supersport 300 crown with a round to spare.
"It was the dream weekend for me," Buchanan said.
"My goal was to do what we didn’t do at Teretonga and win all the races in both classes.
"I was really motivated for qualifying and put myself on pole in both classes, broke the lap record in the 300 and to actually win the 300 title a whole round early, I’m happy as that takes a bit of pressure off."
Buchanan’s Supersport 300 title defence was faultless, as he has won every race and broken the lap record at every track this season.
His class rivals get no reprieve, though, as he wants to continue this unparalleled pattern of success at the NZSBK’s final round in Taupo this weekend, after which he will return to Europe for the Red Bull Rookies Cup.
He enjoyed the battles that thrilled the crowds throughout the three Supersport 600 class races and the fact that his main rival is also his Yamaha Racing Development team-mate does not diminish his fire to win, or his respect for Jake Lewis.
They are separated by a single point with Lewis holding the narrow lead.
"Me and Jake, we get along really well," Buchanan said.
"He’s a really supportive team-mate and he wants to see me succeed just as much as I want to see him succeed.
"It will be an interesting position when we are both fighting for the championship going into that last race in Taupo.
"I wouldn’t want to be fighting for the championship against anyone else."
Yamaha New Zealand motorsport manager Josh Coppins was on hand at Hampton Downs and said it was phenomenal to witness Buchanan’s continued trajectory.
"Cormac is really showing his class and the reasons why he is doing well internationally," Coppins said.
By: Staff reporter
