Cudlin plans for 2004

Well it's all over for me for another year, and already time to start thinking about the next one.

As you guys might know, I ended the year in the IDM (International Deutscher Meistershaft) in 12th. It was a good result for some, but not for me. I've never competed in a whole series with out a sniff of winning, and unfortunately this year I did. There were a number of reasons why we weren't where I wanted to be, but at the end of the day, I'm glad the season's done, to give me a chance to assess everything and plan my next move.

After I finished the year with Kawasaki, I was offered a ride in the final race of the World Endurance Championships with Team Trackdaze. I jumped at the chance to do it, as I'd ridden for them earlier in the year at the A1 Ring in Austria and we had a great time. It was also a bit of a highlight of my year when I run at the front in the race until the bike stopped. So then it was off to Vallelunga, in Italy.

Things went well in practice, and I posted the 5th fastest time in first one. Then the race motor went bang, big time............. it even caught on fire. That was a bummer, as they had to throw a spare one in that didn't have the same go as the race engine.

Anyway we got on with it, and ended up getting a decent result. Nick and I ended the race in 9th, and made no mistakes all race long, plus I set the 5th fastest lap of the race. The team were pleased and it was another fun weekend with them.

After that was finished, I was offered the chance to ride a Ducati for EVR, in the last round of European Superstock Championships in France.

I knew I'd be jumping in at the deep end, having not ridden a Ducati (or a twin) before, plus having to get to grips with a different track, but it was a good opportunity to try something else and work with an experienced guy like Edo Vigna.

First and only practice lasted for 25 minutes, and things went as I expected, pretty cautiously and slow. The bike was really nice to ride, but really different from anything I've ever ridden before. Even to sit on it felt strange, but I didn't get long before the first qualifier rolled around, so I had to get on with it.

I ended the first qualifier 20th. I improved a bit in the second qualifier to finish in 17th spot. I was about 2.5 seconds off pole, and wanted to be further up the field, but the whole bike still felt really foreign to me, so it wasn't too bad.

I changed a couple of things on Saturday night to try and make the bike fit me a bit better, and it seemed to work because in Warm Up on Sunday, I posted the 3rd fastest time.

For the race I thought if I could get a good start and run away with the front group, then I should land a good result, but I stuffed the start up pretty badly. The clutch on the Ducati is really different, and basically I just screwed it up.

I quickly made a bit of headway and starting putting in some good times. I could see the top 10 ahead but then with about 4 or 5 laps left, my front brake gave up. I can't believe the run of luck I've had this year, it's been a real pain in the a%&.

Anyway I brought it home slowly and wound up 13th. Still got some points and made the guys at EVR happy, so it wasn't too bad.

Edo was great to work with, and I'm sure if we'd have just had a bit more time before the race, we could give them front guys a hurry up................ maybe next year.

So the season for me has ended and the silly season is already well underway.

It was nice to end the final race of the season upright and out of trouble, so now I can concentrate on securing something for myself again for next year.

I hope to have something sorted soon, so I'll keep you informed.

All the best,
Damian Cudlin.