NZ’s Motorcycling rider’s history in Moto 3, 500cc Grand Prix, and AMA Supercross 250. The list spans 7 decades with racing icon – Hugh Andersen – setting precedent winning four Motorcycling World Championships from 1963 to 1965. Andersen’s remarkable success – winning Moto 3 World Championships 125cc in 1963 and 1965, coupled with taking the 50/80cc World Championships in 1963 and 1964 – was recognized with the award of MotoGP Legend in the sport’s Hall of Fame in 2022.
MotoGP rider – Simon Crafer – broke the long drought of NZ rider’s standing on the top step of the MotoGP podium – winning the 500cc GP at Donington Park in 1998. With a third place at the Dutch TT GP at Assen, followed by second place at the Australian Motorcycling GP at Phillip Island in ’98, Crafer competed his best season in seventh overall.
Fast track forward to 2025, NZ’s Cormac Buchanan has completed his rookie debut in Moto 3 finishing Round 3 in P10. The 18 year old has spent the past 4 seasons racing in Europe in Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup from 2021 to 2023, along with competing in FIM Junior GP World Championship from 2022 to 2024. Cormac gained 3 podiums last season, taking P3 at Misano in Round 2, P3 at Estoril in Round 3, and P2 at Estoril circuit in Round 11, finishing the season in P6 overall.
Ben Townley gained the all-mighty victory winning AMA Supercross East 250 Championship in 2007. Having carved his international Motocross career racing in Europe from 2001 to 2005 – and winning MX2 World Championship in 2004 – Townley spearheaded the charge to become the first kiwi rider to compete and win against America’s best SX rider’s.
Breaking another, long dry spell for NZ rider’s to race and win against AMA SX and MX competition, NZ’s Cole Davies won his first Supercross West 250 Round at Seattle on March 30, 2025 on debut. Acknowledging that his rise up the steep racing career ladder would not have been possible without the guidance of Townley and America’s Wil Hahn, the 17 year old has sights firmly fixed at winning a Championship Title, currently standing P3 with 3 Rounds remaining.
Moto 3 Round 4: Lusail circuit, Qatar, April 11 – 13. AMA SX West Round 8, Philadelphia, April 13.
Header photo: Cormac Buchanan Credit: manutormo Graphics: MXLink.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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