Damian Cudlin played a pivotal role in BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent’s podium in Germany.

Aussie Damian Cudlin played a lead role in BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent’s stellar second place finish at the 8 Hours of Oschersleben, with the team forced to fight back from a mid-pack position after problems starting their bike.

Cudlin shared the seat with Erwan Nigon and Sébastien Gimbert, and bolstered the team’s grid position by setting a quick qualifying lap to secure a start from position two.

Nigon took the start for the team but found himself circulating in 15th after troubles starting the bike dropped the number 99 machine to mid-pack.

He was able to make back much of the ground lost, handing over to Cudlin and Gimbert for their own respective stints which brought the team into a strong podium placing.

“It’s been a long time between drinks but it feels great to be back on the podium again,” said Cudlin. “It was a tough weekend for all of us, but my team showed real spirit to fight back.

“It’s true we were down, but as they say, it’s not about whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get back up again. Today we did that and I’m really proud to have been a part of it.”

BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent greeted the chequered flag two laps down to claim second place, registering the outfit’s first World Endurance Championship (WEC), points of the season in the process.

The team will test at Le Mans early next week for the final round of the WEC, the Le Mans 24 Hour, to be held on 21 September.

Cudlin’s immediate focus will be on regaining his championship points lead in the IDM German Superbike ranks, with the next round to be contested at the Sachsenring on 7-8 September.