Source: Yamaha Racing.

Team Yamaha MGM’s Damian Cudlin had a mixed opening round of the 2015 IDM Superbike Championship at Lausitzring on Sunday, but proved he has the pace to contend for the title on board the all-new YZF-R1M.

Cudlin also showed a strong pace in the changeable conditions at Lausitzring and took fourth place in the second race after suffering a crash in the first outing.

After a good start in race one Cudlin was riding closely behind Markus Reiterberger and Max Neukirchner and in contention for a top result. He gradually closed the gap to his teammate by setting his fastest lap of the weekend, but unfortunately it wasn’t to last. The 31-year old suffered an unfortunate crash on lap five and was forced to retire from the race early.

Cudlin made up for the lost racing action in race two by engaging in a hard battle for third place. He fought tooth and nail with Xavi Fores to the finish line, only to miss out by just 0.198 seconds.

“I think the first and the second races were similar, but the outcome was a little bit different,” Cudlin commented. “In the first race I chose a front tyre that I have never used this weekend. It was a little bit of a risk, but I think it was the right choice.

“I started slowly, but I built up my speed. Then I started to catch Max and did the fastest lap I’ve made all weekend. The bike felt good and then suddenly the crash happened with no warning.

“For the second race I decided to go a little bit safer and took the softer option front tyre, the one that we used in qualifying. I had the same start and speed and could follow Max and Reiterberger for the first two or three laps, but when the tyre started to slide I started to lose a lot of grip, they were going away. I tried to hang on, but I almost had another big crash.

“Fores was like a road block, he was so late on the brake and I couldn’t pass him. I passed him three times in the last three laps, but he managed to overtake me every time again. A podium was impossible today.

“I am disappointed, because I think without the crash in the first race, we would have two podiums today, so it’s not a great start to the championship for me. The positive is, I have the speed of the other guys, I have to remember this and take this positive thing to Zolder.”

Cudlin sits seventh in the standings entering the second round at Circuit Zolder, Belgium, in two weeks time.

2015 IDM Superbike Championship
Round one – Lausitzring, Germany

Superbike/Superstock race one results:
1. Markus Reiterberger
2. Max Neukirchner
3. Xavi Forés
4. Lorenzo Lanzi
5. Lukas Trautmann
6. Matej Smrz
7. Mathieu Gines
8. Marvin Fritz
9. Roman Stamm
10. Danny de Boer

Superbike/Superstock race two results:
1. Markus Reiterberger
2. Max Neukirchner
3. Xavi Forés
4. Damian Cudlin (AUS)
5. Lorenzo Lanzi
6. Matej Smrz
7. Roman Stamm
8. Mathieu Gines
9. Danny de Boer
10. Jan Halbich

Superbike championship standings:
1. Markus Reiterberger 50
2. Max Neukirchner 40
3. Xavi Forés 32
4. Lorenzo Lanzi 24
5. Matej Smrz 21
6. Jan Halbich 19
7. Damian Cudlin 13
8. Erwan Nigon 8

Click here for detailed results