Cudlin sizzles in the Qatari desert Australia’s Alex Cudlin (Qatar Endurance Racing Team Suzuki GSX-R1000) has continued his stellar start to his 2010 international race campaign by taking a dominant double victory under the floodlights at Qatar during the fourth round of the Qatar International Road Racing Championship on 9 April. Held as a support event to the opening round of the 2010 MotoGP Championship, Cudlin impressed the huge array of international teams present by blitzing the field in the opening Qatar Superbike race of the meeting, taking the win by over six seconds and recording the fastest lap of the race after earlier taking pole position in the 25 rider field. “I am so happy to finally get my first win for 2010 under my belt,” Cudlin beamed after he stepped off the Suzuki GSX-R1000 he will campaign in this year’s Endurance World Championship in the Superstock division. “I’m really starting to feel at home on the Suzuki. It suits my style of riding really well so hopefully this is the start of something good.” Indeed it was, as Cudlin roared away from pole position in the second Superbike race of the weekend to take the lead into turn 3 and pull away to record another victory, as he continued to put his best foot forward in front of the influential MotoGP bosses present in the Qatar desert. This time Cudlin’s winning margin was reduced to 2.5sec, however, “I made a good 2 second gap within the first 4 laps of the race and I wanted to control the race from that point on. Unfortunately I was slowed mid race by some backmarkers and it allowed the challengers from behind to catch me. I then just kept my head down and managed to make a gap with 3 laps left to go. It was a fantastic and challenging race” Cudlin said. “My lap times were very consistent, which is a big part to do with my fitness. I knew I had the strength to stay consistently fast throughout the whole race. It was a new experience racing under flood lights in a sprint race. I’ve competed many times during the night in the Endurance World Championship before but a sprint race is a different proposition — the lighting of the venue is amazing and I’m very happy with my double victory!” The meeting brings Cudlin’s podium tally in the 2010 Qatar International Superbike Championship to seven from eight starts as his Qatar Endurance Racing Team proves itself to be the dominant package in the Championship. “Had it not been for a slight mechanical glitch in the opening race of the season, I’m sure I’d have a perfect podium tally in the championship but that’s racing,” Cudlin said at the end of the fourth round. With only four races left to run in the championship, Cudlin sits in second place 38 points adrift from series leader Frenchman Anthony Delhalle, but has the momentum going his way and he’ll be looking to narrow the series lead when he revisits the Qatar venue on 7-8 May. “I have to thank my team for the opportunity they have given me in racing for QERT. The bike has been fantastic so far and hopefully this race experience will put us in good stead for a shot at the 2010 Endurance World Championship Superstock crown.” Cudlin’s next outing is at the opening round of the 2010 Endurance World Championship at the Le Mans 24 Hour on 16-18 April.