From a press release issued by Damian Cudlin’s publicist: CUDLIN TO RETURN WITH PHASE ONE Taree’s Damian Cudlin has confirmed he will return to his former Phase One Yamaha Team for the full 2008 World Endurance Championship season. In a surprise late season re-shuffle, Cudlin, who rode for YART last season on his way to 3rd in the World Championship standings, will now race the Dunlop shod Phase One Yamaha R1 in his bid for the 2008 title. “I guess the best way to describe it is that it feels like coming home. It feels like I’ve been on holiday and now I’m back with my family at Phase One again,” said Cudlin from his base in Austria. “Although I had different plans for most of the off season, I decided I needed people around me who had faith in my ability as a rider, and who trusted me to do the job. Russell (Benney) has been a big supporter of my career for many years now and was willing to stick his neck out to get me back on board. I’m more determined than ever before and want to repay him and my team with results. I’m happy to be back.” Phase One showed a vast improvement of both bike and the rider line up last season but were thwarted with bad luck throughout 2007. This year Phase One mean business, and showed this recently with a scorching race simulation at the Dunlop tyre test in Albacete. With all the elements now in place, Phase One Team Manager Russell Benney believes it could see the Phase One Team return to the glory days of 2000-2003 and was happy to have his young charge back on board. “I think that it would be true to say that I have never seen a rider so hungry for the rostrum. It will be great to work together again, I’ve missed both his sense of humour and his grit.” Benney said. “Its been a tough negotiation but securing the services of this experienced yet still young rider is crucial to our aim of re-winning the title.” Cudlin will pilot the 2008 Phase One Yamaha R1 for the first time at the official ‘Pre Le Mans Test’ on the 26th/27th of March.