MAY 2008

DAMIAN CUDLIN INVADES GERMANY...

Damian Cudlin is quickly making a name for himself in the IDM German Supersport Championship after another sensational podium at Oschersleben. Cudlin maximised his World Endurance experience of the twisty Motopark Arena t qualify 7th for the weekends races on his Dunlop shod SKM-Bike Promotion Yamaha, before heavy rain lashed the circuit. Opting for ‘dry’ settings, Cudlin lost early ground on the leading group in the wet conditions of the opening race, but fought back as the track began to dry, crossing the line in 4th place.

“I didn’t feel comfortable at all in the beginning and I was sliding around a lot in the wet conditions” Cudlin explained. “But I knew it was going to dry out and as soon as it did I found my feet again and came home strong. I just wish the race had been 5 laps longer.”

Sunday’s second Supersport race produced a cracking show for the huge crowd, when an eight bike freight train fought it out for the win. Cudlin, who narrowly missed a turn 1 collision, joined the party on lap 5 and began to move his way through the pack. Fighting grip issues on the last 3 laps, Cudlin wrestled his R6 into podium contention with one lap to go. In a thoroughly entertaining last lap showdown with Russian Vladimir Ivanov and Frenchman Sebastian Diss, Cudlin made a stunning pass on the final corner to snatch the final podium place and finish in 3rd.

“That was hard work but a lot of fun. I was stuck behind a couple of guys early on in the race and really worked my tyres getting past. Once I felt them sliding around underneath me I tried to save the right side for a final lap attack and it worked perfectly. I’ve really got to thank Dunlop who have worked hard to get these tyres working so well, and also my team who really gave me a bike that was great to ride. I know it can sound like a broken record when riders thank the right people, but I wouldn’t be 2nd in the championship right now without their help.”

Cudlin now trails German Arne Tode by 30points in the title race but believes there are many more chances to claw back the difference during the season, although insisted that the pressure is heavier on the German.

“There’s a lot of racing left and we are only getting stronger as a team. Nobody thought we’d be 2nd and challenging for the title this year so I’m really treating every race as a bonus. If I’m still in the hunt with one round to go, then I’ll start thinking about the championship. Right now I just want to win some races.”

Damian will race at the Nurburgring for the first time in two weeks when the IDM series continues.

PLATER PREPARES...

Fresh from his triumphant week at the North West 200 races in Ireland where he won three of his four races, Steve Plater from Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire is anticipating a good week of racing at the Isle of Man TT races and caught the ferry on Wednesday to prepare for the first practice session on Saturday evening. Last year he took the Best Newcomer Award and was credited with the fastest ever lap by a newcomer in the history of the TT. Asked of his prospects and expectations for this year he said: “I have no expectations, I will be doing my best, that goes without saying but I very much doubt I will get on the podium let alone win a race. The TT course is 37.73-miles long and takes a fair bit of learning, it takes years not months and I will certainly not be looking to claim the lap record. The TT course is still a learning curve for me and as long as I can keep improving I will be happy enough.”

Plater will have a start number of 10 this year and said: “I started out last year with number 31 and at the end of the week was moved up to 11 for the Senior TT. The numbers are issued in order of merit with the fastest riders going off first, so to be starting my races from 10th place is fine by me.” After a week of practice Plater, riding the AIM Yamaha R1 will line up for the start of the six-lap Dainese TT Superbike race on Saturday, May 31 at noon. Next up will be the four-lap Scottish Life International TT Superstock event in which Plater will be riding his own R1 Yamaha sponsored by Nitro Helmets. The race is set for a 10.45am start on Monday, June 2. He will then hop onto the AIM Yamaha R6 for the Relentless Supersport Junior TT run over four laps starting at 1.15pm the same day.

Wednesday sees the second Relentless Supersport Junior TT race starting at 10.45am, again run over four laps of the 37.73-mile mountain road course. The blue ribbon Senior TT is to be run on Friday at noon and will be the last outing of the week for Plater who will ride the AIM Yamaha R1 over a further six laps of the course.

STEVE PLATER...AND HE JUST KEEPS GETTING FASTER...

Steve Plater is being hailed as the King of the Roads after riding to a win in each of the two Supersport races, setting a new lap record and securing his third successive victory in the feature race at the North West 200 meeting in Ireland on Saturday. First race on the agenda in a busy day of racing for the Woodhall Spa ace was the DeWait Performance Tools Superbike race run over five laps of the 8.966-mile Triangle Course that runs on public roads between the towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine. After encountering a few stability problems in qualifying, Plater started the race from a second row grid position but the warm up lap threw up some very different problems.

“I was going through Black Hill towards Juniper on the warm-up lap when a hare ran across the road in front of me. I missed it so it can count itself lucky, where I come from that’s dinner!”

By the end of lap one he was in fifth place but up with the leading group. He was batting with Michael Rutter for third throughout lap two but Rutter eventually got the better of him and edged further towards the front. As they crossed the finish line there was only a second separating the first four riders with Rutter taking the win from Guy Martin and John McGuinness and Plater just two tenths of a second behind in a very close fourth place.

Next up was the Club SOL Portrush Supersport race and Plater made a start from pole position. He didn’t manage to capitalise on his front row start and lost ground, but was soon back in contention in third place. He fought tooth and nail in a group of seven riders who were all vying for the lead and drafting each other along the long fast straights taking turn about to run at the front. But going into the final lap it was Plater that had shot to the front ahead of Alistair Seeley, Bruce Anstey and his AIM teammate Ian Hutchinson with Ian Lougher tagged onto the back. The group encountered some backmarkers and Steve was able to break the tow and pull a small gap leaving the other four contenders to chase after him. But Plater maintained his lead and crossed the finish line with a three second advantage over Seeley and Lougher to take his first ever class win at the NW200 beating Bruce Anstey’s existing lap record by nearly two seconds with a lap of 4m 30.792s – 119.197mph set on the last of the five laps.

Later in the day Steve took to the grid for the feature race of the day, The Blackhorse Motorcycle Finance NW200 Superbike race, which he had won in both 2006 and 2007. Plater made a good start on lap one of six and slotted into second place at University Corner but on the run to Metropole was pushed back to fifth behind Michael Rutter. But Plater was hungry for the win and on lap two used every inch of the road to blast past both Rutter and McGuinness into third place. Lap four saw race leader Guy Martin touring with a problem and Plater was quick to take the advantage and take command at the front. He could sniff the victory and tried to put some distance between himself and the following riders but was drafted by Bruce Anstey along the long fast straight on the run towards Metropole. Six riders were covered by less than a couple of seconds and anyone of them was in for a shout of the win. On the final lap Plater was shuffled back to third place but drafted back past Rutter and Cameron Donald to take the lead and held on for grim life to take the chequered flag for his third successive win in the prestigious event.

Steve had little time for the podium celebrations, as he was straight back out on track for the final race of the day...but the race was red flagged after the first lap when Guy Martin crashed unhurt at Black Hill. At the restart Hutchinson was first to show his hand and led the field around Bally Sally roundabout. But Plater was in his tyre tracks and forged ahead as they sped towards Metropole. There followed a mighty battle of wits between Plater, Hutchinson Seeley and Steve Brogan all trying to draft each other along the straights. The group were separated by less than 1 ½ seconds with the two AIM Yamaha riders in the thick of the action. Eventually they were joined by Keith Amor and Ian Lougher and it was anyone’s guess as to the outcome. Hutchinson was seen to slow and retire with a burst water hose leaving the way clear for Plater to head the pack. As the group hurtled towards the final chicane it was Plater who had a slight advantage and he crossed the finish line to take his third win of the day ahead of Seeley and Lougher.

“That wasn’t a bad day at the office was it? For me it was mega as I have some disappointment already this year. I led the Le Mans 24-hour race for the first two hours before we had to pull out with a clutch issue and then led the Albacete six hour race for a while before ending up in fourth place so to get the hat trick today is the icing on the cake. The team has done a fantastic job and given me the ingredients to win the main race of the day so I have to say a big thank you to them. It hasn’t really sunk in yet, maybe I need to just get away on my own for a while and think about what I have achieved here today."

Steve will take a short rest before travelling to the Isle of Man to begin his practice for the TT races where he was awarded the Best Newcomer award last year after setting the fastest ever lap by a newcomer around the 37.73-mile mountain course. Practice begins on Saturday (May 24) and a full programme of racing is scheduled to start the following Saturday May 31st through to Friday June 6.

Alistair Seeley, Steve Plater and Ian Lougher - PICTURE BY ANDREA CAMPBELL

MORE FROM THE NORTHWEST 200

MICHAEL RUTTER:
"Firstly I would like to pass on my thoughts to the friends and family of Robert, whom I was a good friend and also a team-mate to at the TT in 1993. He was a great character around the paddock and will be sadly missed by everyone, he achieved so much in his career and it's a sad loss to the sport."

It has been an ideal race day for Rutter and the NW200 team over at the Kennedy International North West 200 race. The 36-year-old rider took a stunning victory in the opening Superbike race at the amazing Irish road circuit. Rutter who had qualified in second place on the grid behind John McGuinness, timed his move on the leaders to perfection and made a solid move on Guy Martin and John McGuinness on the last lap and took his twelfth North West victory. Rutter slid off in the Superstock race and was uninjured and secured a solid third place in the big North West Superbike race.

A good start in the first race saw Rutter 'The Blade' settling into second position behind Honda mounted Guy Martin. He knew that he would need to plan his time well to ensure of the win and he had to conserve his tyres wisely. Reaching speeds of 198 mph down the straights enables the riders the prime opportunity to make use of slip steam passes, which Rutter used to his advantage on the final lap drawing in the pair in front of him.

At one point Rutter had slipped back to fifth position behind Guy Martin, John McGuinness, Steve Plater and Cameron Donald. Planning his moves with precision he passed Plater on lap four of the five and moved to fourth, Donald ran on at the Metropole and allowed Rutter to move his way back through to third behind Martin and McGuinness. The torque of the Ducati and the double slip-stream effect gave Blade the perfect chance to take the lead on the final lap, holding off the hounding pair he took a stunning victory for the NW200 team, his first win at the North West since 2005.

A delighted Rutter commented after the opening race "This is the ideal start to the day for me. My team have worked so hard this week to find me the best set up. It's a new experience for us all to work together as a team over here and they have all worked very hard and this is the best way of repaying them. It's been a long time coming and with our teams association with the event it could have come at a better time and I'm delighted with the race result."

Rutter did not gain the best start in the Superstock race and fell back to sixth place by the first corner. Sadly he lost the front end of the Ducati into York corner on lap two of the 8.9-mile circuit. No sooner had he got back to the pits but he was out again on the Ducati F08 for the main race of the day. In an exciting and nail-biting six lap race with positions being exchanged on numerous occasions, it looked like Rutter would once again take the victory but a blocked move by Steve Plater on the last lap spoiled Rutter's hopes and he dropped from the first place he had just taken from Cameron Donald to third position over the line with Plater taking the victory.

Michael Rutter: "It's been a very good day for the team and I can't complain about the two Superbike results. I had a bit of a nightmare in the Superstock race and had a small crash, luckily it was nothing serious and I was able to get back to the start for the second Superbike race. I planned a clean move on Cameron late into the last lap and Steve (Plater) managed to come up the inside of the pair of us. I had to shut off out of the corner and lost my drive and ended up finishing third. I can't complain too much and I'm glad to be back on the podium at one of the events of the year that I look forward to the most. I would like to thank Mervyn and Alistair once again for putting on an amazing event, they do a fantastic job as do all the volunteers involved and 2008 has been no exception to what has been another incredible North West 200. I hope everyone has had a good weekend and enjoyed themselves."

A FITTING TRIBUTE...

ROBERT DUNLOP - THE SAD LOSS OF ANOTHER LEGENDARY MOTORCYCLE RACER

HAPPIER TIMES (ATHEA 2005) - Ronnie Shields THEN THE DUNLOPS - MichaeL, Sam with William ON TOP, Jim and Robert