Cormac Buchanan - a kiwi learning to fly on a motorcycle!

For Cormac Buchanan, racing motorbikes professionally on the world stage isn’t just a dream – it’s a plan.

Since taking up the sport less than two years ago, this Southland 14-year-old has been committed to accomplishing the initial stages of his master plan. It took a massive leap forward recently when he was selected for the 2021 Red Bull Rookies Cup – the first kiwi rider to ever make the cut into this prestigious programme.

Now he’s preparing to farewell his family and friends and will head to Europe at the end of March to tackle his biggest challenge yet – competing for six months in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, France, Finland and Germany at circuits alongside the top echelon MotoGP.

Ask Cormac why he wants to be a Rookie and the answer is simple: “To be the best, you have to race against the best. I want to pit myself against the best in the world so I can one day I will achieve my goal of being the first ever kiwi MotoGP champion.”

We believe he has what it takes. In less than two years since his first road race in Australia in March 2019 (he was too young to race in New Zealand!), Cormac has racked up an impressive list of achievements.

In 2019 he was selected for the Oceania Junior Cup in Australia along with events in Spain and Malaysia.

Last year, when just 13, he won the New Zealand SuperSport 150 Championship along with the NZGP and NZTT titles – remaining unbeaten throughout the season. He was also the youngest rider to ever compete in the iconic Bluff Hillclimb at the Burt Munro Challenge.

In January he also made his debut in the SuperSport 300 ranks at NZSBK and, despite being the youngest competitor, achieved the seemingly impossible – winning all six races, setting two lap records, earning two pole positions and securing two NZPGP titles in the process.

Away from the circuit he is completely focused on his goals, which include doing well at school, training effectively with his strength and conditioning trainers and racing coach and developing the attributes imperative to being a successful professional racer.

Road racing is an expensive sport and Cormac’s family has funded the bulk of his career on their own, along with the humbling support of friends and extended family. This next chapter comes at a significant cost personally and financially as the family will separate on opposite sides of the globe to enable Cormac to chase his goals, including his father leaving his job to accompany him to Europe while his mum and sister remain here.

So let’s back this kiwi kid as he proudly represents New Zealand on the world stage and help give him the chance to succeed.