Team QERT Suzuki (Qatar Endurance Racing Team) has confirmed Australian rider, Alex Cudlin, as one of their team riders in the 2010 World Endurance Championships. Alex will also contest the remaining rounds of the Qatar International Road Race Championships for the team. Cudlin was signed to team QERT in December, but it wasn’t officially announced until last weekend, when Alex was invited by the QERT team to fly to Qatar and take part in the 2nd round of the Qatar championships. This gave Alex an opportunity to become better acquainted with the team and thoroughly test the bike, while officially announcing his participation as a member of the team for both Championships. ” I am extremely happy to have signed with QERT for the 2010 World Endurance Championships. The team has only been competing in the World Endurance Championships for the past 3 years, but have been able to win the Superstock category 2 times, which proves their level of professionalism and passion to succeed. Of course our aim this year will be to retain that title” Cudlin commented at the Press conference. With no time on board for testing the bike, Cudlin was able to learn the handling capabilities of his new Suzuki GSXR1000 and qualified in a solid 5th position for the two 15 lap races to be held the following day. In the first race of the day, Cudlin was able to quickly move into 3rd spot and was then involved in a tight tussle with World Endurance team mate and Moto 2 World Championship rider, Mishal Al Niami, before finishing 2nd under the chequered flag. Alex’s fortunes changed in Race 2 when he was forced to retire early from the race due to an electrical problem on the bike. ” To get a podium finish in my debut race with the new team was exactly what I had hoped for ” said Alex. ” I knew I could be competetive because I had come to terms with the new bike fairly quickly in testing, but to get a podium finish in the first race felt great. My two team mates in this year’s World Endurance Championships were 1st and 3rd respectively, so to get 1-2-3 on the podium shows that we not only have the speed, but will be a force to be reckoned with in this year’s competition. This year, with this team, I have an opportunity to compete in both World Endurance races in Europe as well as sprint races in Qatar. It’s been at least 5 years since I’ve raced in the sprint race format, so it was fun to take part in them again. The extra riding will help to improve my speed and racecraft, and maybe I can climb up one more step on the podium in the next round” said Alex smiling. Alex will head back to Qatar for Round 3 of the Qatar International Road Race Championships in 2 weeks time.