The weight of success: Ruchè Moodley’s parents recount horror of son’s crash

Arushen and Chanelle Moodley have had to ensure the type of torment that comes with the territory when your son wants to race motorcycles for a living. 

In a new episode on Red Bull’s Born Racers, the parents of South African Moto3 rider Ruchè Moodley detailed the pain of watching their son experience an almost-fatal crash at just 11-years-old. 

Ruchè said it was the worst injury of his career so far, after hitting a tree and fracturing his skull. The 11-year-old Ruchè at the time, also hurt his right leg. 

“I was watching the live timing and just saw a red flag. I messaged Arushen and asked him what’s going on but he didn’t reply. About half an hour late, he called me and said they are on the way to the hospital,” Chanelle Moodley said. 

“When I heard he was going to ICU, I freaked out. I spent that entire night on my knees praying. It was a horrible time and hard to see your child in so much pain,” she added. 

An emotional Arushen recalled: “I ran over the track. The race was stopped. I ran over to him and opened his visor. His face was swollen and he wasn’t responding to anything. I just thought that was it. 

“Everyone that saw the impact, even the doctor said ‘it was impossible for the kid to survive that’. Luckily, there was a good surgeon and they managed to relieve pressure on his brain and resuscitate him. I definitely think on that day, Ruchè had a guardian angel. Even though my dad has passed away, when Ruchè races I always look up to the sky and ask for his protection.” 

After the crash at 11-years-old, both Chanelle and Arushen expected their son to quit the racing dream but he was adamant on pushing on. In fact, Ruchè said he got faster after the crash. 

“I don’t know why it made me quicker but it made me fear less about riding. Because I knew if I did crash what would happen and I knew I could manage it,” Ruchè said. 

Fast forward just under a decade later, and the younger rider has suffered two crashes this season in the Moto3, with the second one causing more extensive damage to his right hand and shoulder. 

Judging by Arushen and Chanelle’s reaction when he suffered the near fatal crash all those years ago, the fear running through their body after watching him crash on the world stage may have been overwhelming. 

“Grateful to be here after a scary crash in Mugello last Sunday. I’ve got a few fractures but I am in good care. Thank you to my team @boe_motorsports ,friends, family and medical team for all the care and support,” Ruchè wrote on his social media from a hospital bed in Barcelona. 

Ruchè currently lives in Europe with his family who are mainly there to support his racing career, as life on the series can be a bit lonely for teenagers with no friends abroad. The young South African said he doesn’t really have many friends on the tour or back home in South Africa. 

His father is his best friend both on and off the track. The teenager racer also previously told Independent Sports his missed the food back home but was grateful he found a little curry joint in Spain. 

Luckily though, Ruchè just so happens to be from the same province as MotoGP winner Brad Binder, who tries to keep ties with Ruchè as close as he can while managing his own career. 

“I remember I used to coach a little when they raced the 100cc class in South Africa and that’s where I first met him. I keep an eye and see if there is anything I can try and do to help,” Binder said.