Damian Cudlin called in to replace Hector Barbera at Mapfre Aspar MotoGP team – MotoGP news
The Australian World Endurance rider Damian Cudlin has been called in to ride as a substitute for the injured Hector Barbera of Mapfre Aspar.
The team’s sole rider Barbera sustained a fractured right collarbone during the Motegi crash and will not be able to get fit in time for the Australian MotoGP event.
Although Barbera had a successful surgery at Barcelona, Spain recently but his rehabilitation will take longer.
Previously, the Aussie rider had ridden for Pramac Racing’s injured Loris Capirossi during the Japanese Grand Prix. Capirossi was injured by a crash at the Misano event. He dislocated his previously fractured shoulder in the fall.
Cudlin said, “This is a great surprise. Barely a week after the Japanese Grand Prix I'll be on the Ducati again. I quickly became familiar with the new bike and track at Motegi so I'm looking forward to it.”
The Mapfre Aspar team has contacted him to take an opportunity and once again ride a satellite Ducati Desmosedici GP11.
Cudlin made a good run at the Motegi circuit even though he has no previous experience about the Japanese venue and a MotoGP prototype.
The only experience he has about a MotoGP class was that he recently tested the BMW-powered Suter bike which is expected to be running in the 2012 premier class season.
The Aussie rider has a vast experience of World Endurance races and IDM championship. With no prior MotoGP experience, he was able to perform well at Motegi.
He was able to improve his pace aboard Desmosedici in each practice session. In the first practice session of the weekend, his best effort was 5.9 seconds slower than the top fast rider on the time sheet.
With determination, he shortened the time gap from the top rider to a considerable 2.7 seconds in his best lap during the race.
Unfortunately, he could not finish the race at Motegi and crashed during the 15th lap of the race. Cudlin was fighting for a 14th position. He was the third rider to fall in the race, after Valentino Rossi and Hector
Barbera.
Tags: