BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent were forced to retire from the Bol d’Or at Magny-Cours, after a crash in the second hour of the race left the #99 BMW S1000RR too damaged to continue.

Damian Cudlin started the race in the wet, but a dry line started to appear around the track almost immediately, making the conditions tricky for all. Cudlin managed to maintain 3rd position to the first pit stop, after which he returned to the track to complete a double stint on the bike.

Unfortunately, just two laps before he was due to handover to Sébastien Gimbert, Cudlin crashed heavily at the end of the straight and was forced to push back to the pits.

Gimbert took to the track once the crash damage had been repaired, but was forced to return to the pit box after experiencing problems on his first lap. Following further inspection of the bike by the team’s technical staff, it was decided to withdraw from the race on safety grounds.

Cudlin suffered a mild concussion in the crash, but was otherwise uninjured.

Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“It was a big crash and the bike was very badly damaged when it returned to the pit box. The team repaired the obvious damage quickly to get Sébastien back into the race, but he had a problem on his very first lap and returned immediately to the pit box. On further inspection it was obvious that the crash damage was more extensive than first thought, especially around the bottom of the engine. Without opening the engine it was impossible to assess the damage properly, leaving us with no option but to withdraw from the race. Obviously, it is not the start to the season we wanted but the safety of our riders, and our rivals, must come first. After internal discussion involving all of our technical partners, we decided to stop rather than chance putting others at risk.”

See video of the BoldOr drama here!

Teaser – Bol d’Or 2012 – Courtesy MotoRacingLive.com

BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent head into the 2012 season with confidence, after successfully completing the two-day Pre-Bol d’Or test at Magny-Cours this week.

With no official timing during the two-day test, direct comparisons between teams proved difficult, but BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent was, once again, one of the fastest teams on track, as Sébastien Gimbert, Erwan Nigon, Damian Cudlin and Hugo Marchand put the 2012 BMW S1000RR through its paces.

The team focussed on further refining the set-up of the 2012 BMW S1000RR during the test, as well as working closely with Michelin to identify the best tyre options for the Magny-Cours track.

Overall it was another positive test for BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent, who will return to Magny-Cours in just two week’s time for the Bol d’Or, the opening race of the 2012 Endurance World Championship, which takes place over the weekend of 14th and 15th April.

Sébastien Gimbert:
“The pre-Bol d’Or was another good test for us, with a lot of progress made with the bike. The 2012 BMW S1000RR is very different to last year’s bike. It’s more manoeuvrable, has better traction and is definitely a big step forward in terms of performance. We have also found a good set-up that makes the bike easy to ride, which is important for a 24-hour race at a physically demanding circuit like Magny-Cours. Michelin have also been working hard over the winter, with a new rear tyre bringing us a big improvement in grip. Overall I have a good feeling with the new bike and the same is true of my three teammates, which the lap times show quite clearly. But testing is done; now we must race. A lot can happen during 24 hours of racing, but I’m confident that we can start the season with a good result at the Bol d’Or. I’m not just ready to race, I’m really ready to race!”

Erwan Nigon:
“We completed a lot of work on the bike during the two days at Magny-Cours. We tested many changes to the balance, to the front fork and to the chassis, with positive results. We ended up with two good settings; one that made the bike easy to ride and one that was ultimately quicker, but demanded more input from the rider. Now we need to analyse the data, to find a final set-up that combines the best of these two options for the race. I am ready to race. I have confidence in the BMW S1000RR, in my teammates and in my team, so I’m sure we can start the season strongly at the Bol d’Or.”

Damian Cudlin:
“I missed the first day of the test, because I was travelling back from Jerez, but I was on the pace from the start on day two, which just shows how good the BMW S1000RR is. The bike is fast, without a doubt, but we still have some work to do ahead of the first race. We need to make the bike easier to ride for 24 hours, as it’s quite physically demanding at the moment, but we made progress with this towards the end of the test and I know we have a good starting point for the first practice session ahead of the Bol d’Or. The preseason tests have gone well, but now I’m looking forward to racing the 2012 BMW S1000RR for the first time at Magny-Cours.”

Michael Bartholemy: Team Manager:
“The pre-Bol d’Or test at Magny-Cours is an important one for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is ideal preparation for the first race of the season, which takes place on the same circuit just two weeks later. Secondly, it is the first time that all the teams come together to test, allowing everyone to gauge just how strong the competition will be during the season. Direct comparisons were difficult, as there was no live timing at the test, but it was clear that we were on the pace, as we expected to be. Starting the season with a 24 hour race like the Bol d’Or is tough for everyone – a lot can happen when you race around the clock – but we have done the work during the winter and hopefully we’ll reap the benefits in the race.”

Damian Cudlin has confirmed he’ll compete in the both the Endurance World Championship and the Moto2 GP World Championship in 2012, making him one of the busiest men in motorcycle racing.

Having recently signed for the QMMF Racing Team to compete in his first full season of grand prix racing, Cudlin was thrilled to also retain his position at BMW Motorrad France alongside Sebastian Gimbert and Erwan Nigon, who will enter the 2012 EWC as title favorites.

Cudlin’s schedule will see him race in 17 Grand Prix, and 5 EWC events, stretching over 13 countries, in a period of 8 months.

“I’m certainly going to have a heavy workload but who wouldn’t be excited to be competing in 2 World Championships in the same season?” Cudlin said. “This is really a dream come true for me and I’m absolutely wrapped how it’s all come together. I’ve waited my whole career for a grand prix ride, and now I’ll finally get my chance without losing the possibility of winning the Endurance World Championship in the same year. There’s been a lot of work behind the scenes to make this happen but it’s all been worth it. Now I just can’t wait to go racing!”

Having recently completed his first shake down test with the QMMF Racing Team at Valencia and Jerez, Cudlin is confident that his Qatari Team has what it takes to be successful in the ultra-competitive Moto2 class despite still having a lot to learn about the new Moriwaki chassis.

“I couldn’t be happier with my team and the all of the mechanics on my side of the garage. They’re a great bunch of people and we worked together really well. I’m also really happy to have such strong support from Moriwaki. Their chassis has loads of potential and they are really motivated to improve the bike. It might take some time but I can’t see why we can’t be competitive this year.”

Cudlin also recently sampled BMW’s new 2012 model S1000RR at the Bike Promotion-BMW Test Camp Event in Spain and was happy with the machine he’ll campaign in the Endurance World Championship.

“The 2011 model was already very good, and we proved many times last season that it was the best package on the racetrack, but the 2012 model is even better again. There is a noticeable boost to the mid range power, the chassis updates have improved the balance of the bike, and best of all it’s got heated hand grips! Can’t wait to use those at 3am in Le Mans!” Cudlin grinned.

While his wife Amy is occupied processing new members for the “Convict Club”, Damian is now busy searching for sponsors who want to support his 2012 campaign and insists there are many great opportunities still available.

“I couldn’t do this without the support of sponsors and I’ve been lucky to have great people that have stood behind me over the years; companies like Bike Promotion for example” Cudlin explained “but I’ve never been able to offer sponsors as much as I can right now. The exposure potential is enormous and it’s available for a lot less than most people might think. I’m searching for people who want to be part of this adventure and help me to chase my dream.”

The opening round of the Moto2 World Championship will be the Grand Prix of Qatar on the 8^th of April, followed a week later by the opening round of the Endurance World Championship- the Bol d’or 24 hour in France.

Damian Cudlin and his BMW Motorrad France Team came painfully close to being crowned World Champions for the first time at the final round of the Endurance World Championship inQatarlast weekend but were forced to watch the title slip from their grasp and into the hands of reigning champions Suzuki Endurance Racing Team.

The season’s finale was billed as a title showdown between these two teams and that’s exactly what occurred when the pair went head to head in the Qatari desert. Fans witnessed one of the most nail biting endurance races in recent history, where the title of champion remained undecided until the very last lap.

The betting money had been on BMW Motorrad France’s line up of Damian Cudlin, Sebastian Gimbert and Erwan Nigon, who completely dominated the weekend’s proceedings, topping every practice and qualifying session on their way to a convincing pole position time that shattered the previous record. SERT however looked noticeably shaky in the lead up to the race, losing Japanese rider Daisaku Sakai to injury, then suffering another hard crash from Vincent Phillipe on their way to qualifying a distant 4^th.

As the race began in hot and humid conditions, Frenchman Gimbert rode the opening laps cautiously before picking off his rivals with relative ease and moving to an early lead. Gimbert proceeded to pull away from title rivals SERT, however the Yamaha Austria Racing Team substitute Katsuyuki Nakasuga began making the BMW Team nervous as he clung desperately to Gimbert’s rear wheel. The deepest fear of the BMW Motorrad France Team became a reality on lap 12 when the YART rider attempted a desperate overtaking manoeuvre, crashing in the process and taking the innocent Gimbert with him as the pair tumbled into the gravel trap. The BMW box erupted with emotions directly after the incident as Gimbert returned to the pits for substantial repairs.

The crew worked frantically on the #99 machine, as the sums were immediately crunched by the BMW tactical crew. While all hopes of the title seemed to be dashed, the team returned to the track in last position and 3 laps behind new leaders, SERT.

What occurred next shocked most of the EWC paddock, as the BMW trio put on a powerful display of speed and consistency, lapping faster than anyone else for the remainder of the race. The team made an astounding comeback and with just an hour of the race remaining, the “would be champions” caught and passed title rivals SERT and took over 2^nd place. It was still not enough though, as they needed to win the race, with SERT 3^rd to claim the title, which meant catching race leadersGMT Yamaha, still a full lap ahead. Charged with the final rotor, Nigon put in an incredible performance, shattering the lap record and fighting with every ounce of energy left.

In the end, it just wasn’t enough, and the GMTYamaha claimed victory by just 30 seconds. The BMW Motorrad France Team of Gimbert, Nigon and Cudlin finished a close 2^nd to the applause of the entire EWC paddock. SERT claimed the final step on the podium and with it the 2011 Endurance World Championship.

“It’s obviously disappointing. I don’t think anyone could understand what it’s like to lose like this unless they’ve been through it themselves” Cudlin admitted. “We were so close. We did everything right this weekend; we just suffered cruel luck when Nakasuga crashed into us. There are lots of moments that make up a season, but there’s no question that Nakasuga’s error cost us the world championship. Something like this is pretty hard to take for all of us.”

The BMW Motorrad France Team finished just 4 points behind reigning champions SERT who claimed the Endurance World Championship for a record 11^th time.

“Even though we’re all disappointed right now, I’d like to thank the entire BMW Motorrad France Team for their huge effort this year. My team mates Sebastian and Erwan are the best team mates I could ever ask for, and Michelin have provided us with the best tyres available to anyone. Challenging for the title in our first full season is a great achievement and I think we should be proud of ourselves. I also want to congratulate SERT for claiming the title for the 11^th time which is just amazing. I just hope they don’t get too attached to the trophy though, coz next year it’s ours!” Cudlin grinned.

It’s been a busy year for the Aussie which included a full IDM Superbike season, GP development and of course, his MotoGP debut. Looking forward to a well earned break, Cudlin will return home to Taree,Australianext week for the “off season” before returning toEuropeat the end of January for the 2012 racing season.

Motorcycle racer Damian Cudlin has experienced it all in the past few weeks. The Aussie all rounder got to experience the highs of replacing GP stars, Loris Capirossi and Hector Barbera on a MotoGP grid, but also experienced the lows of crashing out due to technical problems in Japan, and suffering a monstrous crash at Phillip Island, which eventually ruled him out of his home grand prix.

Still recovering from a hip injury and severe abrasions, Cudlin has had time to reflect on his MotoGP adventures but insists his focus is now on securing his first World Title when the final round of the Endurance World Championship draws to a close in Qatar in 2 weeks time.

“It’s been a hell of a ride and I’ve enjoyed every part of it” Cudlin insisted at his home base inGera,Germany“well… almost all of it!”

Cudlin referred to his first set back on the Pramac Ducati at the Japanese Grand Prix, where he’d climbed to 11^th place in the race before a water leak caused him to crash out of the results.

“The crash inJapanwas just unlucky, as a stone had holed the radiator and it took me down by surprise.” Cudlin explained. “I didn’t even know that’s what had caused the crash at first, but the Pramac guys investigated it once I’d returned to the pits and told me later. I thought it was really good of them to tell me honestly what had happened. It was just one of those things.”

Returning toEurope, Cudlin received another shot at MotoGP when the MAPFRE Ducati Team when he was drafted in to replace the injured Hector Barbera at the Australian Grand Prix atPhillipIsland. The prospect of racing in MotoGP at his home grand prix was a dream come true for the Aussie, and many fans and supporters hoped for a fairytale result at the often unpredictable Phillip Island. Unfortunately it was not be. Cudlin suffered a huge fall in Saturday morning’s FP3 session and was treated at the medical centre for deep tissue lacerations and abrasions, as well as a hip socket injury. Desperate to race and make the most of the opportunity, Cudlin tried bravely to ride again with the help of pain killers, however only managed a single lap on Sunday morning before withdrawing from the race.

“Obviously I’m really disappointed that I didn’t get to race. It was the chance of a lifetime and I feel like it was wasted.” Cudlin admitted. “Friday went pretty well and I was confident of moving up during the rest of the weekend, but on Saturday the cold wind caught me out and I highsided on my first flying lap with a new rear tyre. It was my mistake- but it was the same one that a lot of guys have made on the Bridgestone GP tyres. I guess I learned a hard lesson.”

Cudlin’s focus has now returned to the prospect of winning his first World Championship with his BMW Motorrad France Team at the final round of the Endurance World Championships inQatar. Trailing reigning World Champions SERT by just 9 points, the championship is up for grabs and Cudlin is keen to retain the title he’s been working for since 2005.

“SERT are still going in as favorites but this is Endurance racing and anything can happen. Our focus is on winning the race, that’s our priority now, because if we can do that, then we stand a chance for the overall championship. It’s a good mentality to have really; the pressure is on them now.” Cudlin insisted. “I’ve been doing Endurance a long time now and we’ve finally got a shot at the title. We’ve all worked so hard to get into this position and now it’s time to make the most of it. We’re gunna give it everything we’ve got atDohaand see what happens. Keep your fingers crossed!”

The final round of the Endurance World Championship will held at Doha, Losail on the 12^th of November.

Just 1 week since his surprise appearance in MotoGP as a replacement rider for Loris Capirossi at the Pramac Ducati Team, Damian Cudlin has now been confirmed as a replacement for Hector Barbera, who broke his collarbone in Japan last week.

The 28 year old Australian will ride a Ducati Desmosedici for the Mapfre Aspar Team at his home Grand Prix at Phillip Island next weekend.

“To get the call up the first time to replace Loris was a big enough shock, but to get another start in MotoGP for another team at the very next race is just unbelievable to me.” Cudlin explained. “You wait your whole life to get a shot at MotoGP and then suddenly two come along at once. If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up!”

Cudlin impressed many with his performance at Motegi, quickly adapting to a bike he’d never ridden, at a circuit he’d never seen before. Despite crashing out of a certain points scoring finish in Japan, Cudlin proved to be an asset to the Pramac Team both in terms of speed and valuable feedback on the Ducati Desmosedici. Now, starting in front of his home crowd at a track he’s familiar with, Cudlin hopes to carry on from where he left off in Japan.

“Obviously in Motegi I had a lot to learn in a short space of time which made things a bit tougher for me, but at least at Phillip Island I’ll know which way the track goes. I haven’t actually ridden there for a long time, not since my Australian Superbike days back in 2004 or 2005, but I’ve got a good memory and to ride a MotoGP bike around there should be unreal. I think a lot of my family and friends; probably half of Taree will be coming down to cheer me on, so I’ll definitely have plenty of support. I can’t wait.”

Cudlin will arrive in Australia on Wednesday in preparation for Friday’s first practice session at Phillip Island.

“I must thank the Mapfre Aspar Team for giving me this opportunity to race at home. It should be a great experience and I just want to enjoy every minute of it. I also want to thank everyone who’s sent me messages of support in the last couple of weeks. It’s blown me away and I hope to make everyone proud at Phillip Island.”

Australia’s Damian Cudlin is a motorcycle racer in demand. In the last 3 weeks the 28 year old has raced a Production Superbike for his BMW Team in the IDM series in Germany, an Endurance Superbike for BMW Motorrad in the Le Mans 24 hours race in France, and a Ducati Desmosedici for Pramac Racing in the MotoGP World Championship in Japan. Each team used different tyre brands, different suspension and different electronic systems to manage their machines, while the team’s staff ranged from German, Belgian, and French to Spanish and Italian. Despite this, the versatile Aussie has managed to race all of them with success, making him an increasingly valuable asset for the 2012 season.

Heading into the final round of the IDM Superbike series in Hockenheim, Cudlin went into the event as a title candidate, however a small mistake while pushing for lead of the final race of the season cost Cudlin in the championship standings as he eventually dropped to 4^th in the final rankings.

With no time to rest, Cudlin drove his car and caravan to France for the 4^th round of the Endurance World Championship and the classic Le Mans 24 hours race. Going into the event as championship leaders, Cudlin and the BMW Motorrad France Team looked set for certain victory after securing pole position and leading for almost half of the race, however technical issues cost the team over 40 minutes in the box for repairs and the seemingly unstoppable #99 eventually finished in a disappointing 7^th overall.

It was expected that Cudlin would enjoy a hard earned break with some of his BMW colleagues at the World Famous “Oktoberfest” after the gruelingLe Mansrace, but whilst on-route toMunich, Cudlin received the opportunity of a lifetime to replace grand prix veteran Loris Capirossi in the Pramac Racing MotoGP Team at the Japanese Grand Prix. Without hesitation, Cudlin and his wife Amy headed straight toFrankfurtand boarded a plane forTokyo.

“A message came through directly from Sito Pons asking me if I was interested to replace Capirossi inJapan. I was driving the car at the time and I almost steered it off the road. I honestly couldn’t believe it. Before we knew it, Amy and I were sitting at the airport waiting to fly toJapan. I kept expecting someone to jump out and tell me I was on Candid Camera!” Cudlin joked.

Thrown in the MotoGP deep end, Cudlin faced the daunting task of learning the Motegi racetrack whilst riding the potent Ducati Desmosedici MotoGP machine for the very first time. While steady to begin with, Cudlin soon proved he was no joke at all, as he continued to reduce the deficit to the leaders with every session. Qualifying ahead of MotoGP test rider and multiple grand prix winner Shinichi Ito, Cudlin looked set to claim more scalps in the race as he moved to 12^th position and within striking distance of 11^th placed LCR Honda rider, Kousuke Akiyoshi. However the impressive debut ended early when Cudlin lost the front of the Ducati and crashed out with 8 laps to go.

“The race was going to plan and although I was trying really hard at the time, I’d just got to the back of Akiyoshi and had started to plan my attack for a few laps before the finish, but then suddenly I was skidding across the tarmac and my race was over. It’s really disappointing to have crashed out, especially as it’s just the second time I’ve crashed in the entire 2011 season; talk about bad timing!” Cudlin shrugged. “Still, it was a great experience, one that I’ll remember for the rest of my life, and I can’t thank the Pramac Racing Team enough for giving me this opportunity. I hope it’s not the last…”

With the next round of the MotoGP World Championship scheduled for Phillip Island in Australia, Cudlin says he’d “kill for the chance to ride it again” however the status of currently injured Capirossi is still unclear. Cudlin has also been linked as a replacement for Hector Barbera at the Aspar Team as the Spaniard is currently undergoing treatment for a broken collarbone.

“Obviously it’d be great to ride a MotoGP bike again with the experience I’ve gained inJapan, especially at a circuit I’ve raced on before likePhillipIsland, but it’s out of my hands so I’ll just wait and see what happens. If nothing else, I’m content to say I’ve ridden in MotoGP and had a great time doing it.”

Pramac Ducati has announced that 29-year-old Australian Damian Cudlin will replace the injured Loris Capirossi in this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi.

“It’s hard to put into words what this opportunity means to me,” said Cudlin, whose MotoGP experience is limited to testing the 2012 BMW-powered Suter CRT bike.

“I’ve dreamed about starting in MotoGP since I was a boy, and until now it’s been just that- a dream. Now it’s become a reality and to be honest, I’m still in shock!

“I’m under no illusions about how difficult this race will be. I’ve never ridden a real MotoGP bike before and I’ve never been to Motegi either, so realistically my expectations can’t be too high. I just want to do the best job I can, enjoy the experience, and just see what happens. I’ve really got nothing to lose, so why not?

“I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this. I still can’t believe I’ll be replacing Loris Capirossi – I had posters of him on my wall as a kid!

“I just want to thank Sito Pons for recommending me, the Pramac Racing Team for giving me a chance, and also my current BMW Team for allowing me to use this opportunity. I hope I can make everyone proud that they took a chance with a guy like me.”

Cudlin, a veteran of the World Endurance Championship, has made one previous grand prix start, in last year’s German Moto2 Grand Prix, where he rode from 22nd on the grid to an impressive seventh.

Capirossi, who will retire at the end of this season, dislocated his right shoulder for a second time this year, at Aragon.

The Italian hopes to return for the final three races, following Japan.

After a strong performance at the previous round in Schleiz, Australian Damian Cudlin headed to the 7^th round of the IDM Superbike Championship full of confidence and ready to advance in the championship standings.

The new Red Bull Ring venue seemed to immediately suit Cudlin and the Alpha Technik/ Van Zon/ Kraftwerk BMW and the team set an impressive pace in Friday’s opening practice sessions. An afternoon storm heavily affected Friday’s final practice session, however Cudlin felt confident with the bike’s performance in either weather condition.

Saturday’s opening qualifying session presented the first mechanical issue all season for Cudlin’s crew when a faulty radiator cap caused a 20 minute delay in the box. With limited time remaining, Cudlin set the 3^rd fastest time on just his 3^rd flying lap of the session before returning to the box. Unable to use his 2^nd qualifying tyre in the time remaining, Cudlin went on to improve his time in the hotter qualifying session in the afternoon but couldn’t improve his grid position for Sunday’s races.

“It’s a shame we lost some time in the opening qualifying session, but it’s the first time anything has gone wrong with the bike all year, so I really can’t complain” Cudlin explained. “Anywhere on the front row is a good place to start from so I’m looking forward to the races.”

Fantastic summer weather greeted the fans on Sunday as temperatures soared to 35 degrees. In the opening leg, Cudlin made a quick start and battled for 2nd with championship leader Bauer on the opening lap, as Ranseder set a frantic pace at the front. Unable to maintain the pace of the leading duo, Cudlin dropped behind but held 3^rd position for the first half of the race. With 8 laps to go, Cudlin felt a sudden drop in tyre performance and began to struggle with a lack of grip. Dropping down the field dramatically at the end, Cudlin could only manage 7^th at the finish; a whopping 20 seconds from the race winner, Ranseder.

“It’s a really disappointing result and it hasn’t done our championship any favors at all” Cudlin quipped at the end of the first race. “Our tyre choice was wrong and there was nothing I could for the last half of the race. It was just about survival at the end.”

Cudlin and his tight knit crew put their heads together for the second race and came up with another strategy that proved to be far more successful than the first.

Blasting away from the line, Cudlin settled into 3^rd on the opening lap, like a carbon copy of the first race. While the local riders sprinted away at the front, Cudlin opted to ride conservatively for the first half of the race to save his rear tyre for the end. With 8 laps to go, Cudlin put on a surge and broke away from his pursuers to claim his 3^rd podium in the last 4 races.

“The second race was definitely better then our first, but I’m still a bit disappointed to have been so far behind the two in front of me. Pirelli have made a good step with the tyres recently but we still need to work and I hope that we’ll have something stronger for the final race at Hockenheim. The championship isn’t over technically, but Bauer looks like a shoe in from here now, so we’re really focusing on trying to finish 2^nd in the standings now.”

Cudlin lies 3^rd in the IDM Superbike Championship standings, just 2 points behind defending champion Karl Muggeridge but 42 points behind Martin Bauer.

The final race of the season will be held at Hockenheim, Germanyon the 18^th of September.