News 1 May 2015

Cudlin ready to commence IDM assault at Lausitzring

Experienced Australian on board 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1M.

Source: Yamaha Racing.

Source: Yamaha Racing.

After more than seven months of waiting, Yamaha is ready for action in the 2015 Superbike IDM International German Championship, starting with the first round at the Lausitzring this weekend.

As a part of its new road racing strategy, Yamaha Motor Europe aims to claim the IDM title by officially supporting Team Yamaha MGM, headed by team manager Michael Galinski.

Team Yamaha MGM’s riders Max Neukirchner and Damian Cudlin were key protagonists in the previous Superbike IDM seasons, the former being last year’s Superbike IDM runner-up and the latter having claimed third place in the 2013 standings.

The German and Australian’s experience in the Superbike IDM class showed during the pre-season testing when their strong performances aboard the all-new YZF-R1M set high expectations for the coming season.

“We’re here at Lausitzring and I’m really excited to get the season underway,” Cudlin commented. “The off-season feels like it’s been very long, because I signed the deal so early at the end of last year and I’ve been waiting for this ever since.

“It feels like a very long time of waiting, but the date is finally here. I’m excited to see what we can do together in the team. We’re in really good shape, the testing went well and I expect these next three days of testing also to give us a chance to have a good base setting for the weekend. I couldn’t be happier at the moment.

“We need to win like every year, but this time I think we have a genuine chance to do that. Of course it’s not going to be easy, because we have a lot of strong contenders this year for the championship. I think there’re going to be five or six guys threatening for the title and I think we are one of those guys. I just hope to get the season of to a good start.

“I really like the Lausitzring. The last time I raced here was in 2013 and I won both times, so I’ve good history with the circuit. Hopefully if we get our season off to a good start we can build a momentum for the rest of the races.”

Neukirchner and Cudlin have both booked multiple podium finishes at the Lausitzring in previous seasons and look forward to putting their bikes to the test during Sunday’s race.

The Superbike field, consisting of 11 top-notch riders and six different manufacturers, will compete over eight rounds for the honour to be crowned IDM champion.

The majority of the racing action will take place in Germany with the exceptions of Circuit Zolder in Belgium, the Hungaroring in Hungary and the TT Circuit in Assen, the Netherlands.

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