Cormac Buchanan takes P10 at COTA – Moto 3 Round 3. The Denssi Racing – BOE rider not only produced his best performance on track in only 3 Rounds as a rookie, but also proved strategy, focus, and mental tenacity was a winning combination to elevate his standings in the highly competitive class.
From the Opening Round in Thailand, to Round 2 in Argentina, to racing Circuit of the America’s this weekend, Cormac has put paid to the fact that planning goals and how to achieve them remains #1 on the to-do-list as highlighted by finishing P10 from qualifying P15, starting on the 5th row. As expected, there were plenty of elements to consider given the wet-dry track conditions, a new track to learn and race on, along with management of pace and tyres.
Cormac: ”I knew this was an important race to finish – letting the race settle a bit and not trying to rush things was my focus. I had lots of pace but I knew being patient to save the tyres was a key factor in the race. I waited until the final half of the race to use my true pace which allowed me to catch the group and move into the top ten as the rider’s around me had overworked their tyres”.
If experience counts – and Cormac has spent the past 4 seasons racing in Europe – managing all elements of racing has been refined to a level of progression as confirmed by Round 3 stats. Cormac’s lap positions, pace, and passes were well calculated from Lap 1: P13, to Lap 4: P12, to Lap 12: P11, to Laps 13 and 14: P10. Pace was equal to his male counter-parts with his best lap time of 2’15.272 in Lap 4 and speed of 238.1 in Lap 6.
Cormac: ”These first 4 Rounds for me is to gain experience on these new tracks – it’s important to keep expectations at a certain level. The team have been great in setting goals and we have our process which we follow to keep improving. The goals for these first 4 Rounds is to keep improving and moving forward to arrive in Europe on the tracks which I know with good experience and feelings”.
Heading into Round 4 at Lusial circuit in Qatar in 2 weeks time, Cormac embraces the race calendar which varies in track layout, ground temperatures, and logistical distances. Such adaptability remains key to perform over the long season of 22 Rounds, which has already tested rider’s on track surfaces of 56 degrees in Thailand, 31 degrees in Argentina, and 27 degrees at COTA.
Cormac: ”Heading into Qatar it’s important for me to reset, knowing the track is a new one. I have to approach it the same way as these last few Rounds, studying lots of videos and trying to get up to speed with the track as fast as possible. But making sure I arrive in Qatar physically and mentally prepared – in the best place possible – so I can be ready to fight again there”.
Moto 3 Round 4: Lusial, Qatar April 11 – 13. Header photo: Cormac Buchanan racing Moto 3, 2025 Image: @manutormo
Words: Sharon Cox.
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