NEWS HEADLINES - FIM NEWS - SCANDAL HITS SWEDISH ENDURANCE RIDER

Classification revised following anti-doping control/Classement corrigé suite à contrôle antidopage
World Motorcycle Endurance Championship/Championnat du Monde d’Endurance

Following an anti-doping control carried out during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one sample was found not in accordance with the rules of the FIM Anti-Doping Code. The sample of the rider of the Swedish team Fägersjö-el.se Jan Hansson was containing a concentration of 180 ng/ml of salbutamol, a substance which is submitted to a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) foreseen in the FIM Anti-Doping Code. (Salbutamol is commonly used to treat asthma and other lung-related problems.) But the administrative procedure required for issuing this authorization by the FIM was not respected by the rider, and thus the International Disciplinary Court decided to exclude the team from the results of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (in which it had finished on 8 th place) and to give a warning to Jan Hansson and the Swedish Federation for not having respected the procedure foreseen in the Anti-doping Code.

(That means that the Fagersjo-El .se Suzuki team drop two places in the Championship, from 3rd to 5th.)

The Endurance World Championship points’ standing, consequently revised, is the following:
Classification after 5 races/classement après 5 courses :
1. Suzuki Castrol Team (FRA-Suzuki), 115 points 
2. Yamaha Austria Racing Team (AUT - Yamaha), 94
3. Yamaha Phase One Endurance (GBR-Yamaha), 67
4. Bolliger Team Switzerland (SUI-Kawasaki), 58
5. Team Fägersjö-el.se Suzuki (SWE-Suzuki), 57
6. National Motos (FRAHonda), 35
7. Team Endurance Moto 45 (FRA-Suzuki), 29
8. Diablo 666 Bolliger (GBRKawasaki), 26
9. No Limits & R.T. Moto Virus (ITA-Suzuki), 24
10. RMT 21 Racing Honda (GERHonda), 23
11. Yamaha GMT 94 (FRA-Yamaha), 22
12. Shell Endurance Academy (GBRYamaha), 20
13. Folch Endurance 2 (SPA-Yamaha), 19
14. Akaisanrinsy Racing Club (JPNHonda) 16
15. Team 18 Sapeur Pompiers (FRA-Suzuki), 16
16. Infini Team Johann Moto Sport (FRA-Suzuki), 15
17. Team LGT 57 (FRA-Yamaha), 15
Complete classification on FIM website/classement complet sur le site FIM: www.fim.ch.

PRESS RELEASE FROM DAMIAN CUDLIN

Taree’s Damian Cudlin has put his World Championship hopes back on track after a successful 2nd in class finish at the Suzuka 8 hour race in Japan on the weekend. Again riding for his Phase One Yamaha team, Cudlin who made his Suzuka debut last year, rode solidly to gain crucial points toward his championship campaign.

In the event that is widely regarded as the toughest motorcycle race in the world, Cudlin alongside Nowland and Minnin struggled in practice and qualifying, with Cudlin’s best time only managing a 47 th spot on the grid for the Sunday’s race. However a trouble free race with faultless pit work saw a charge through the field to finish 17 th outright in the race and 2 nd in the all important World Championship Superbike class.

"It’s been a tough race. We never got the set up right here this weekend which made it harder for all of us on the track, but we dug deep and pushed on to a good result. Finishing 2 nd in the SBK class is great for the championship and this result is a real credit to everyone in our team. We all rode hard, the team worked hard and it really paid off."

Cudlin has moved to 4th in the World Endurance Championship standings, only 1 point shy of 3rd place with 2 rounds remaining.

"I really feel like I’m back on the pace again and if we can keep this momentum going who knows how the championship could turn out? I’m just going to give it everything in the final 2 rounds and see what happens."

...AND NOW HIS BROTHER - AND RIVAL, ALEX...

Taree's 19 year old Alex Cudlin has just scored his best result of the season, racing at the famous Suzuka circuit last weekend. Riding the Diablo 666 Kawasaki, Alex was able to secure a 6th place in a class finish, giving the team much valuable points in the World Endurance Championship. Alex, having his debut ride at the Suzuka circuit, managed to impress the team with how quickly he learnt the difficult track.

" The Suzuka circuit is one of the best tracks in the world to ride on, although it is also one of the most technical. It's quite hard to learn really. It was a fantastic feeling to be able to race around there"

Alongside team mates James Hutchins and Marko Rothlaan, Alex managed to qualify for the main race on Sunday. Having a big job at hand, the 3 boys went to work and with a combination of good pit stops and consistent times, the team finally finished 6th in the Superbike class, getting their best result this year and moving from 13th to 8th in the World Championship standings.

"It was such a difficult race today. The weather conditions were so hot out there that it was really quite exhausting getting on the bike and completing the race. This track is so demanding on the body, so bike fitness was a big part of the race today. It is a good result for our team and we have hauled quite a few points back on some of the guys ahead of us in the Championship. Our main objective coming here this weekend was to get as many points as possible. We suffered mechanical problems at the first few rounds this year, so getting good points here has really put us in a good position for the remainder of the season. I'm really happy with the result."

Alex has now flown from Japan to England where he will relax for a week before heading off to Germany for the Oschersleben 24 Hour race. Alex has never been to the Oschersleben track before so it will be another learning curve for him, although the Diablo 666 Kawasaki Squad will be going there with high hopes after last years' 3rd place result in arguably the most gruelling race of the season.