New Zealand teenage motorcycle ace Cormac Buchanan is buzzing to get back to racing in the Red Bull Rookies Cup this weekend.
Buchanan arrived at the famous Mugello Circuit in Italy on Wednesday, which plays host to the third round of the junior championship.
His last round was at Jerez at the start of May.
Between races, the 14-year-old has spent the past few weeks in the UK, preparing for his rookie British Talent Cup season.
Now back on the MotoGP stage, Buchanan says he is ‘fizzing’ with excitement for the upcoming weekend.
“To say I’m excited would be an understatement,” Buchanan wrote in his Red Bull Rookies Cup blog.
“I’m absolutely fizzing to throw my leg back over my number 14 KTM RC250 R race bike.
“Our last round at Jerez, Spain, feels so long ago.”
Being a lone Kiwi among a field packed with European stars means Buchanan has the disadvantage of visiting an entirely foreign circuit each race weekend.
However, the youngster enjoys stepping up to fresh challenges, and is looking forward to his first run around the twisty Mugello.
“Mugello looks like a wicked circuit,” he said.
“So far I’ve been limited to doing laps on the PlayStation game and watching it on television, so I’m pumped to experience every turn in real life.
“It will be another new circuit for me to wrap my brain around and learn all of its technicalities fast – just as well I love a challenge.
“This was also the case at Jerez last month for races three and four where I was one of just two riders in the Rookies Cup ranks who hadn’t raced there previously.”
The Mugello round of Red Bull Rookies Cup is free for New Zealanders and can be watched on Red Bull TV.
Race one will be on Sunday at 2.30 am NZT.