Taree's Alex Cudlin has blitzed the field in the final round of the Qatar International Road Racing
Championships at the weekend, giving him his 13th win of the season.

Recently crowned as the Qatar International Champion for 2011, Alex wanted to put on a good
show in the final race of the season, held under lights in Qatar.

The weekend started well when Alex topped the time sheets in practice and then stormed to pole
position for the following days races.

On race day in morning warm up, Alex showed his dominance by lapping 1 second faster then
his rivals but on the final lap of warm up, Alex’s motorcycle’s engine had a major technical
problem, forcing him back into the pits. The team quickly determined that the engine needed to
be completely replaced before Race One.

With just 45 minutes to remove the complete engine and replace it with a new one, the QMMF
racing team mechanics rallied together and began the difficult task at hand. With time fast running
out, Alex was forced to watch the other riders take to the track for their warm up lap in Race One.

The mechanics continued to work frantically to ensure that Alex would make the starting grid,
and unbelievably managed to have the bike ready in time for the sighting lap. Unfortunately that
meant that Alex would start from last position on the grid, even though he had achieved pole
position in qualifying. The rules are clear that if a rider doesn’t complete the warm up and sighting
lap, they must start the race from last position.

Unfazed, Alex was determined to prove that he deserved the title of Champion, starting from last
spot on the grid or not.

When the starting lights went out, Alex was unbelievably fast off the line, carving through the field
to be in 1st position by the end of lap one. Alex then proceeded to lap consistantly fast times to
take the chequered flag as the winner.

"That was one of the best races I have ever had. I had to start from last position and I knew it
would be tough, but I was determined and by the end of the first lap I was in 1st position and
took the win. I couldn’t believe I had even made it onto the grid, let alone won the race! When the
engine let go in warm up and with such little time to replace the motor,I felt sure I was going to
miss Race One, but the QMMF mechanics were amazing. To replace an engine in 45 minutes on
a Superbike is pretty unbelievable actually. I was totally impressed. These guys are some of the
best mechanics in the world and they proved that they deserved to have that reputation. They put
so much into getting me onto the starting line, I knew I had to reward them with a win, so I pushed
as hard as I could. This win is for them" said a relieved and happy Cudlin.

The celebrations were cut short as just under an hour later Alex lined up on the grid for Race 2.
This time though, Alex made both the sighting and warm up laps and started from his qualifying
position of pole or number one spot.

Alex leapt away from the pack right from the start and was unstoppable throughout. Alex’s
position wasn’t threatened at all during the race and he comfortably crossed the line as winner of
Race 2, finishing the championship in as dominant a fashion as he began, with yet another race
win.

"This was the final race of the Qatar International Championship for the 2011 series and I wanted
to impress with a win. I wanted to leave here this weekend not only as the Qatar Champion, but
with the winners trophy for the final round. Apart from the incident with the engine just before race
one, the bike performed perfectly all weekend, and it felt really special to win under lights as well.
To top it off, as I rode down pit lane on the cool down lap, my mechanics were standing there with
the Number 1 plate for my bike. It was nice to celebrate this win with my team and I feel proud to
be able to ride with that Number 1 plate in next year’s Qatar Championship! said Cudlin.

Alex’s campaign in Qatar this year was one of the most dominant the championship has ever
seen, with Alex winning 13 from 14 races and making a 100% podium score rate for the season,
proving just how good the QMMF team and Cudlin’s form were in the 2011 season.

"I want to thank the Nation of Qatar and QMMF(Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation) Board
members, and in particular the President of QMMF, Mr Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, for giving
me this opportunity and for providing me with such a professional team to work with. They
provided everything I needed to win and they put a lot of trust in me to do the job well. I was so
pleased that I could repay them with a Championship win. Since I joined this team in late 2009,
the QMMF and the Nation of Qatar have treated me like one of their own. I feel I’m firmly part of
their family now and this is an important component of my success. I was comfortable with my
team and in my surroundings and I’m proud to say I’m the Champion of Qatar. Hopefully there is
more to come in the future" gushed a proud Cudlin.