Cormac Buchanan signs with Spanish racing team

Southland teenage racer Cormac Buchanan will contest two championships in Europe in 2022.

Buchanan, 15, has today signed with leading Spanish outfit AGR Racing to compete in the Hawkers European Talent Cup at the FIM JuniorGP next year, 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.

“The expertise and professional environment AGR manager Anscari Nadal and the team prides itself on will play an important role in achieving the goals I have set.

“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.”

Caption: Cormac Buchanan in action at Ruapuna earlier this month. Photo: ASP – Aaron Staples Photography

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. 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 UK, Holland, Italy, Canada and Australia competing across the Moto2, Moto3 and ETC classes of the FIM JuniorGP.

“There is an awesome international vibe with the different nationalities of the AGR riders and I’m sure we will each bring something unique and exciting to the team,” Buchanan said.

“I am proud to be flying the New Zealand flag in Europe and a massive thanks to everyone here at home who continues to support me on this journey.”

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

“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 amongst it all,” he said.

“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.”

In the meantime, 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 12 and 13 February he’s 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 staged in March at Hampton Downs and Taupo.