Taree's Alex Cudlin has just returned to Australia after a succesful race in the final round of the 2011 Endurance Superstock World Cup. Riding for team QMMF in the famous Qatar 8 hour, Alex was hoping to finish the year off strong and gain a podium finish for his final race of the season. Being no stranger to the World Cup podium, Alex's start to the weekend was difficult when both his race bike and practice bike had engine blow ups in Wednesday practice. Alex and team QMMF were left in a tricky situation with no spare engines and therefore no bike to race. The team sourced a used engine and had no option but to fit it and use it for the race. After the engone was fitted, Alex and Team QMMF got down to business and set about getting a strong result, even though the spare engine was obviously lacking in power in top speed. The race started with QMMF rider Nasser Al Maiki at the helm, and Alex, the fastest rider of the team, opting to go second. It was better for Alex to rest his knee, which he injured in a race meeting in England, rather than try to run in a Le Mans start. The Riders then went to battle and after 4 hours were in a battle for the first position. All was going well until the 4th hour when a fueling issue with the bike caused Alex to pit earlier then required and get the bike repaired. After some time in the pits team QMMF were now in 4th position, some 2 laps behind first, and they then set about catching up so that they could achieve a podium finish. Alex was then required to do extra stints to make up the time and chase down 3rd position. The final podium position wasnt decided until the final hour when Alex joined the track directly behind 3rd place. It was then down to a final push betweeen 3rd and 4th to see who finished up on the podium. Alex managed to push extremely hard and lap faster then his competetors to gap the 4th place team and finish the year on the podium in 3rd place. "Im happy with that race. We were fighting for the win but a little bit of bad luck stopped us from reaching the top stepon the podium. It went down to the wire and luckely I was the fastest in the last hour and we at least finished on the podium, albeit in 3rd position. I didnt think I would be standing here at all to be honest after the problems we had at the start of the weekend. To come back and get a podium is nice. Unfortunately this year didnt go to plan for me. Last year I was the Winner of the World Cup and the winner of the Qatari Championship as well, and I was hoping to repeat that performance, but the first half of the year we were plagued with mechanical issues, and then the team withdrew from the series half way through, which was a real let down for me. This meant I didnt get the chance to defend my crown but Team QMMF regrouped for this final race. I'm happy to end the year in 3rd place for the final round of the World Cup" said Cudlin. Alex is now hoping to secure a new ride for the 2012 race season but for the moment is without a contract. "Hopefully this result I acheived has ignited some interest from other teams for 2012. I managed in my stints to lap faster then anyone else on the track in the Superstock category, so it proved what I can do on a bike. The season wasn't great for me after the team withdrew from the series, leaving me high and dry for the rest of the year, but to come back at the final round and get on the podium is nice. Time will tell where I end up in 2012" commented a positive Cudlin |
