2009 seems to be the year to forget for young Australian racer Alex Cudlin.

After having a difficult season so far with bike reliability problems and errors during the race from teammates, Alex and the Phase One Yamaha team had hoped to see some light at the end of the tunnel at the latest round of the 2009 World Endurance Championships. 

Contesting Round 5 at the famous Bol Dor 24 Hour in France, Alex and the Phase One crew were looking good before the race in qualifiying. All 3 team riders were only separated by a mere 3/10ths of a second in lap times, making the average speed of the team very promising for the race. 

For the first time this year Alex was asked by the Phase One Yamaha team boss to start the race in the Le Mans style, racing to the bike at the starter’s gun. 

Once on the bike, Alex accelerated to a good pace during his first stint and stayed out of trouble during the opening laps. A crash on lap 2 by several riders at the front end caused an early safety car onto the track and Alex was positioned well in the leading group. As the safety car pulled in, the race was again underway. After an hour and 10 minutes on the bike Alex entered the pits for his scheduled pit stop and handed the bike over to his older brother, Damian, to continue the run. After 3 hours, the Phase One Yamaha team was in a fierce battle with Sauper Pompier of France for 5th position. 

As the race slowly ticked away, Phase One Yamaha were feeling pretty happy with their position, slowly beginning to win the battle with Sauper Pompier. Then, at the 6th hour, Alex entered the pits with an engine problem. 

After close investigation by the Phase One mechanics, the team principal announced Phase One’s withdrawal from the race, due to an engine part malfunction.

The most disappointing thing for all of the Phase One team was that Sauper Pompier went on to finish 3rd overall in the race, leaving Phase One Yamaha reeling at the prospect of what could have been. 

“I guess it’s just not our year this year. We are fast and have proved that fact on so many occasions, but I guess all the planets just haven’t been aligned for us this season, to give us the luck that we so badly needed. If we actually finished a race with no mechanical problems, we could definitely get a podium. We just need it all to gel together at the final race in 6 weeks time. It would be nice to get up there at least once this season” commented a disappointed Cudlin.  

Alex has now returned to Australia where he will continue his fitness training in order to be in the best possible physical and mental condition before the season finale on the 14th of November in the Middle Eastern nation of Qatar. 

Alex looks on as the bike is being looked at.

Phase One searching for the problem.