Saturday 8 November in Derbyshire felt alive again as Valley One returned to Shirland Miners Welfare for a free gig…
By K Futur LOCALThe Moto3 World Championship returned on Sunday, 19th October, for another dramatic chapter — this time at the ever-unpredictable Phillip Island circuit in Australia. Known for its stunning coastal backdrop and notoriously changeable weather, the weekend proved a true test of skill, adaptability and determination for the BOE Motorsport team.
After a brief pause in the Asian tour, the team arrived ready to face one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar. Friday’s opening sessions were marked by treacherous conditions, with heavy rain soaking the circuit and forcing riders onto full wet tyres for their first runs. Later in the day, however, the skies cleared, the sun broke through, and the temperature climbed — transforming the surface completely. Despite the improved weather, the limited dry track time meant both BOE riders, Cormac Buchanan and Ruche Moodley, were left in Q1 at the close of the day as they adjusted to the fast, flowing Australian circuit.
By Saturday morning, both riders showed visible progress. Ruche found himself within six-tenths of the fastest time, while Cormac closed the session just one second off the leader — a clear sign of growing pace and confidence. Heading into qualifying, the pair were optimistic about converting their improved speed into solid grid positions.
Cormac delivered a particularly strong performance in qualifying, progressing through to Q2 thanks to a consistent and well-judged effort. Ruche, unfortunately, suffered a crash mid-session — escaping unharmed but unable to post a representative lap, leaving him stuck in Q1.
As race day dawned, all eyes turned to the skies once more. Forecasts warned of fierce winds gusting over 70 km/h — enough to endanger riders on the high-speed Phillip Island straights. Following a Safety Commission meeting, organisers delayed all races by an hour to allow conditions to stabilise.
When the Moto3 race finally began, the gusts were still strong, but the riders adapted quickly to the challenge. The action at the front was fierce, with José Antonio Rueda and Joel Kelso breaking away early and establishing a commanding gap. Behind them, two tightly-packed groups fought for the remaining podium places and valuable championship points.
Cormac rode superbly throughout, holding his ground in the second group and engaging in a thrilling multi-rider battle from start to finish. Showing determination and tactical awareness, the Kiwi talent crossed the line at the front of that group to claim P11 — securing a handful of hard-earned championship points. It was a particularly special moment for him, as Phillip Island is the closest event to his native New Zealand, where family and friends had travelled to watch him compete on the world stage.
For Ruche, it was a tougher outing. He struggled in the early laps to manage the fierce crosswinds, which disrupted his rhythm and made it difficult to stay with the main pack. Once detached, the wind-battered conditions made it almost impossible to recover, though he fought hard to bring the bike home safely and gain more valuable experience at one of Moto3’s most technical circuits.
With only a short turnaround before the next stop, the team now heads to Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for the final leg of the 2025 Asian tour. Three rounds remain before the curtain falls on this year’s Moto3 World Championship — and BOE Motorsport will be pushing to finish the season on a high, building on the progress and resilience shown down under.
