South African rider Ruche Moodley aiming for a better 2026 Moto3 campaign. Photo: BOE Motorsports South African Moto3 rider Ruche Moodley is looking forward to a smooth 2026 season after navigating a challenging debut campaign. Riding for BOE Motorsports, Moodley became the third South African in the paddock, joining Darryn and Brad Binder in other MotoGP classes.
The Gqeberha-born rider not only became the third South African on the world stage but also made history as the first rider of colour from South Africa—and indeed from the entire continent—to compete at this level. He scored 14 points over the season and finished 27th, enduring a stop-start campaign disrupted by injuries that tested both his focus and determination. Despite the setbacks, the 19-year-old has had his contract extended with the Spanish outfit and remains confident about what lies ahead.
“The injuries were not ideal, especially in my rookie season,” Moodley told theIndependent Newspapers. “The injuries were not ideal, especially in my rookie season,” Moodley told the “I have become more resilient because of the challenges I went through this year, and how intense the season is has made me a stronger person.
