Cudlin May Substitute For Leon Camier
Cycle News Staff | April 24, 2013
With the fitness of Leon Camier still in doubt for this weekend’s second round of the World Superbike Championship, the Fixi Crescent Suzuki team is bringing in Australian Damian Cudlin as a replacement rider just in case Camier opts out of the race.
Cudlin is currently competition in the German IDM Superbike Championship for the Dutch-based RAC Racing Team and he won both races last weekend at the Lausitzring in Germany. Cudlin was already scheduled to race in the support class at Assen, but will now substitute for Camier if the Brit’s knee injuries suffered at Aragon don’t improve.
The 30-year-old Cudlin has ridden in MotoGP, Moto, World Endurance, AMA Supersport and the Australian Superbike Championship, where he rode for Team Suzuki.
Camier underwent knee surgery in Spain and the team says he has a 50 percent chance of being fit enough to race at Assen. If not, Cudlin will join Jules Cluzel on the team’s GSX-R1000s.
“I’m really pleased to have been given this opportunity to step into the FIXI Crescent Suzuki team if I’m needed,” Cudlin said in a team release. “I’ve competed in a lot of championships including MotoGP, Moto2, AMA and of course Aussie Superbikes, but I’ve never had the chance to ride for a top-class World Superbike team. I’m really thrilled to have been asked by Paul and thankful to Geert Prins and the RAC team for giving me the chance to ride for FIXI Crescent Suzuki if the situation arises. Obviously, it’s the best for the team if Leon is fit, but if he is not then I will be very happy to step in. If I do get the chance I can’t wait to take it and I’ll hopefully do a good job and perform at my best for the team.”
