Alpha Technik/ Van Zon/ Kraftwerk BMW’s Damian Cudlin has climbed another rung on the IDM Superbike Championship ladder, with another impressive points haul at Sachsenring on the weekend.
The Australian all rounder qualified 6th for Sunday’s two races but featured prominently in both legs in front of his growing group of fans and supporters.
The Sachsenring’s infamous abrasive surface made the correct tyre choice extremely important, and while some of his rivals chose the softer options, Cudlin and his crew gambled on a harder and more durable compound, hoping for a late charge at the end of the race.
As the first race got underway a frantic pace at the front stretched the leading group from the rest of the field; however Cudlin held strong on the back of the group in 6th place. When the Ducati and KTM’s began pulling away at the front with 5 laps to go, Cudlin put on a charge and moved past Michi Ranseder and current IDM SBK champion Karl Muggeridge. With laps running out, Cudlin continued to reduce the gap to 3rd but couldn’t overhaul championship leader Smrz in time and settled for 4th place at the chequered flag.
“The gamble with our tyre selection paid off and we made some ground at the end of the race, but unfortunately I lost a bit too much time in the first half of the race. The harder compound didn’t have the grip I needed to run with the leaders, but it certainly came good at the end; I just needed another 5 laps!” Cudlin said after the first race.
Threatening skies loomed at the start of the second SBK race, and as the race got underway the leading riders jostled frantically for the lead. Drops of rain began to fall on the 5th lap and censing a red flag Cudlin made a brave charge to 3rd place as the race was stopped, forcing a two-part race. Unfortunately for Cudlin, results were taken a lap before his attack and he was classified 6th going into the restart. Visibly annoyed with the decision, Cudlin was determined to make up for it at the restart.
Continue reading ‘Consistent Cudlin Continues Championship Climb’
