South African Moto3 rider Ruche Moodley made a powerful return from injury, scoring championship points in Aragon. The teen racer’s comeback ride shows he’s back on track and more determined than ever.
Aragon, Spain (09 June 2025) – South Africa’s Moto3 sensation Ruche Moodley is back in the saddle and back in the points, delivering a determined performance in Aragon that marks a significant milestone in his rookie season and his recovery. The Gqeberha-born rider, still healing from a fractured arm that saw him sit out the French GP and struggle through Silverstone, reminded the paddock why he’s one to watch.
“I knew that Silverstone was going to be tough,” the teenager admitted. “But with a bit more time to build more strength in my injured arm, I had a good feeling going into the Aragon race.”
That good feeling translated into a strong start. Moodley cracked the top 10 in the opening practice and followed it up with a solid 14th in the second session. With Moto3’s qualifying format rewarding the fastest 14 riders with direct access to Q2, Moodley’s pace secured him a slot in the fight for pole, no small feat in a field as competitive as this.
“It was great to keep up the early pace from the start of the weekend,” he said. “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.”
In qualifying, Moodley chose to fly solo rather than risk his lap being compromised by traffic, a bold move on a circuit where a solid slipstream down Aragon’s near-kilometre-long straight can make or break a lap. He would line up 14th on the grid.
Sunday’s race brought the usual high-speed chaos Moto3 is known for. Aragon’s sweeping corners and long straights made for plenty of overtaking and tight packs. But Moodley kept his cool and chipped away at the riders ahead. By halfway, he had clawed his way back to 14th, running lap times that eclipsed his qualifying pace and edged him ever closer to the leading group.
“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,” he said. “It was a bit frustrating, but they were also not getting away from me.”
In the end, Moodley held strong and crossed the line in 14th, claiming more championship points and, more importantly, proving that he’s back in business.
“All in all, I am really pleased at how this weekend progressed,” he reflected. “It was a good showing now that my arm is getting stronger. We can only go upwards from here.”
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