- Another new circuit logged
- High temps in Qatar
- A steady race on hard compound rubber
- More points in the bag
Talented South African teenager Ruche Moodley continued his maiden Moto3 campaign this weekend as the world championship series visited Qatar in the Gulf region. It was the Gqeberha-born racer’s first competitive outing at the Lusail International Circuit, adding to the list of tracks that he has now raced at.
The high-speed and flowing nature of the 5,419 km circuit requires high-levels of confidence and familiarity. As a rookie, Moodley was short on the latter but stocked with plenty of the former. Ruche completed the first practice in 18th, an excellent showing for a rookie.
“It was my first visit to this track, and racing under lights is a completely new experience for me. I was feeling strong after the early practice sessions, but I knew the front runners would lift their pace as the weekend progressed,” said the 18-year-old.
A good position during qualifying at Qatar relies heavily on slipstreaming. The over kilometre-long pit straight, means that your qualifying performance is almost reliant on those around you as it does your own speed.
“I was in a bit of a middle ground during quali. I couldn’t really pick up a decent tow from anyone,” said Moodley. As a result, his qualifying position for the race start was 20th, narrowly missing out on progressing into Q2. But, Moodley has proven that race day is where he shines. He has consistently finished races several positions ahead of where he has started.
The BOE Motorsports rider dropped a few spots at the start and ended the opening lap in 22nd. “I had a big wheelie off the line so I had to get off the gas to bring the front wheel back to the ground. We opted to race on the slightly harder compound tyre. This meant the bike wouldn’t have the initial grip, but it would get better and be more consistent over the full race distance.”
The race leaders were setting a blistering pace, which caused the field to string. Moodley was in a quick bunch of seasoned campaigners. “I knew that I could learn a bit from racing with guys who are in their second and third year of Moto3.”
The South African teen kept his cool as the action heated up. He gained positions as the lap counter clicked down quickly progressing from 22nd into the high teens. A few more positions were gained as riders ahead suffered crashes and mechanical issues. At just over half race distance Moodley was into the points.
“I had managed my tyre wear to keep a little in reserve for the end of the race.” And it paid off. In the closing stages Moodley gained two more positions. He took the chequered flag in 13th, earning points in the process. This is the third race, of four this season, in which Moodley has scored points.
“The race pace today was really quick. The heat, for the tyres and riders, was tough to deal with. It was the first time I have ridden in these conditions and now know how tough it is. I am glad that I kept my cool as gaining experience is very important. To leave here with points is great.”
