Ruche Moodley shines in Moto3 return at Aragon Grand Prix

Riding sensation Ruche Moodley has shown remarkable resilience and skill in his latest appearance at the Moto3 World Championship, competing strongly in round eight at the Ciudad del Motor de Aragon, Spain.

The Gqeberha-born teenager, who is the sole South African rider in this competitive field, is on the mend following a fractured arm that sidelined him for a round in France.

After a challenging weekend at Silverstone where he battled with the fallout of his injuries, Moodley approached the Aragon round with renewed confidence. “I knew that Silverstone was going to be tough. But with a bit more time to build more strength in my injured arm, I had a good feeling going into the Aragon race,” he noted.

His optimism was rewarded as he started the race weekend on a high note. Moodley showcased his improving form by finishing the opening practice session in a commendable 10th place, followed by a 14th in the second session, keeping him firmly in contention as the weekend unfolded.

In MotoGP, the qualifying format can be intense, with the top ten times in the second practice allowing riders a direct pass to Qualifying 2 (Q2). Moodley was able to secure his place in Q2, hitting the ground running with a solid lap time.

“It was great to keep up the early pace from the start of the weekend. I had a good feeling with the bike and delivered a lap that was quick enough to get into Q2. I knew from there it was game on,” he said.

However, in Q2, Moodley’s strategy was somewhat different. He opted not to chase the slipstream offered by other riders, which could have propelled him to a quicker time. Instead, he completed a clean lap on his own, yielding him a grid start of 14th. “I preferred to run alone during qualifying where another rider’s mistake can ruin a good lap time,” he explained.

The race itself was a testament to Moodley’s tenacity. As the lights went out, the tight-knit grid was evident, with Aragon’s exceptional circuits promising plenty of overtaking opportunities. Moodley knew the significance of a solid tyre strategy, emphasising that finishing races has been pivotal in his rookie season.

Mid-race, he gradually moved up to 14th place, showing promising pace that surpassed his qualifying timings. He detailed, “There was a massive ten-bike group battling for the lead. I was just off that pack, in a middle ground. They were all dragging each other along down the long straight; I could see them but I was just too far back to get a slipstream. It was a bit frustrating, but they were also not getting away from me.”

Ultimately, Moodley crossed the finish line in 14th, demonstrating both grit and continued improvement in his performances.