FIXI Crescent Suzuki is delighted to have secured the services of Australian racer Damian Cudlin for this weekend’s eni FIM Superbike World Championship race at Assen in The Netherlands if Leon Camier is unfit to ride.
Cudlin will head to Assen hot-on-the-heels of a double race win and lap-record performance at last weekend’s highly competitive IDM (Internationale Deutsche Motorradmeisterschaft) Superbike Championship at Lausitzring in Germany for his Dutch based RAC Racing Team. He was due to be racing in a support class race at this weekend’s Assen WSBK event, but will now be on hand to substitute for Camier if the Englishman fails to sufficiently recover from the injury he sustained at Aragon less than two-weeks ago.
The 30-year-old Australian comes with a wealth of experience gained at top level motorcycle racing, that has seen Cudlin race in MotoGP™ , Moto2™ , World Endurance, AMA Supersport and the Australian Superbike Championship, where he rode for Team Suzuki. He has been kindly allowed to join FIXI Crescent Suzuki for the forthcoming weekend by the RAC Racing Team. RAC (Riders against Cancer) supports children with cancer through its racing activities via the Happy Smile Foundation and more details can be found at www.stichtinghappysmile.com for information on Cudlin, please visitwww.damian-cudlin.com
A decision on Camier’s participation in this weekend’s event will be made at Assen later this week; he is recovering well and working very hard following the knee surgery he underwent in Spain, and has a more than 50% chance of being fit for the races. If he is unable to take part, then Cudlin will occupy the seat on the Yoshimura-powered Suzuki GSX-R to ensure Jules Cluzel has a team-mate to support him on the FIXI Crescent Suzuki.
Continue reading ‘Damian Cudlin on stand-by for FIXI Crescent Suzuki’
Damian Cudlin has opened his 2013 IDM Superbike Championship in dominant fashion, taking two wins from two starts at the Lausitzring over the weekend.
The former IDM titleist joined the RAC Racing Team team for a full assault on the 2013 season after an impressive win as a guest rider in the final round of 2012.
With over a decade of international racing experience under his belt, the Australian was always going to be a formidable competitor, especially aboard the proven BMW S 1000 RR package.
Qualifying in third, Cudlin was fourth off the line in the opening race, working his way forward as the laps ticked over. When one of the leading machines crashed and another was hobbled by mechanical problems, Cudlin was quick to pounce, taking and holding the lead until the wave of the chequered flag.
In race two Cudlin went to battle against Yamaha rider Matej Smrz, shadowing the Czech rider before making a decisive pass for the lead on lap 13.
Again he was able to maintain the advantage, a second race win sealing an ideal start to his 2013 campaign.
“This was a perfect weekend,” said Cudlin. “In the first race I tried to save my tyres until lap eight and then I pushed as hard as I could.
“I was surprised to find the Dunlop race tyres were actually better than those we were qualifying on and had a lot of confidence to push.
“I was ready for Smrz to try to counter in the second race when I passed him, but took a deep breath and kept on with it.”
Continue reading ‘Cudlin dominates opening IDM Superbike round!’
BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent today announced that they will field Sebastien Gimbert, Sylvain Barrier and Karl Muggeridge aboard the #99 BMW S1000RR in this year’s Bol d’Or, the opening round of the 2013 Endurance World Championship.
With regular team rider Damian Cudlin away on IDM duties for BMW on the same weekend as the Bol d’Or, the team are pleased to have secured a rider of Muggeridge’s calibre as a replacement for the first race of the new season.
An experience Superbike campaigner, Muggeridge’s arrival ensures that BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent will, once again, field one of the strongest rider line ups for the Bol d’Or, which takes place at Circuit de Nevers, Magny-Cours on the weekend of 20 – 21 April.
Another new recruit to BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent is AMA Superbike star Jake Zemke, who will make his Endurance World Championship debut at the Bol d’Or as the team’s reserve rider.
Karl Muggeridge:
“Since my last race back in September a lot of people have asked me if I was missing racing and, to be honest, I wasn’t. But, when Michael Bartholemy called about riding for BMW in the Endurance World Championship there was a definite itch and, with all the preparation and logistics over the last week, it actually feels like I’ve never been away. I am thrilled and completely motivated for this new challenge and I honestly believe we have a great opportunity together to win. I’ve raced the Bol d’Or before, back in 2000, so I’m well aware of the challenge ahead. I’m in good shape and reasonably well prepared, so bring it on!”
Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“Finding a rider of the right calibre to replace Damian for the opening race hasn’t been easy, as a lot of riders are committed to domestic championships running on the same weekend as the Bol d’Or. We were lucky that Karl was available, because I think he will be a real asset to the team, strengthening an already strong rider line up. Jake will also add a lot to the team. He will be our reserve rider at the Bol d’Or, which will allow him to get a feel for the championship on his debut, but I expect he will make our starting line up in at least one race later in the season. In Sylvain Barrier we have an incredibly fast rider, while Sébastien and Karl bring with them vast experience as well as raw speed. This is a potent combination and, matched with our BMW S1000RR and Michelin tyres, I think we have a very competitive package with which to start the season.”
2013 Endurance World Championship Calendar
| 20-21 April | Bol d’Or | Magny Cours, France |
| 27-28 July | Suzuka 8 Hours | Suzuka, Japan |
| 16-17 August | 8 Hours of Oschersleben | Oschersleben, Germany |
| 21-22 August | Pre-Mans Test | Le Mans, France |
| 21-22 September | 24 Heures Moto | Le Mans, France |
