Australia‰Ûªs Alex Cudlin has taken his third straight Qatar International Road Race Championship (QIRRC) title after an eventful penultimate round of the series at the Losail Circuit in Qatar over 7-8 June.
Cudlin‰Ûªs week started off with the announcement that his QMMF team would not be riding a Suzuki GSX-R1000and would instead be riding a untested Kawasaki ZX-10R for the first time.
He also would be lining up against 5 times World Champion Anthony Delhalle who was making a return to Qatar as a Wild card riding Cudlin‰Ûªs now vacant GSX-R1000.
Cudlin put his head down and immediately impressed on the near stock ZX-10R, setting a 2m04.389s lap in qualifying to sit third on the grid behind championship rivals Al Malki (BMW ‰ÛÒ 2m03.679) in pole position and Al Naimi (Honda ‰ÛÒ 2m04.369s) in second.
Cudlin‰Ûªs other championship rival Prinz (Suzuki), started from fifth with a 2m05.978s lap, while Delhalle the Wild Card would start fourth with a 2m05.157s lap.
The race was scheduled to get underway on Saturday night but due to massive winds and huge dust clouds proceedings were delayed while the weather calmed down.
Finally after a 4 hour delay racing got underway and Cudlin got off to a good start in race slotting into 2ndposition. Cudlin then started to experience Chatter problems with the bike and decided 2nd place was good enough rather then crashing. Eventually Cudlin finished behind race winner Al Malki, who took the flag with 4.1second lead.
Cudlin was happy with the result as he still getting used to the personality of the ZX-10R, which had vastly different engine and chassis characteristics to his usual GSX-R1000. Al Naimi, Delhalle and Prinz finished in that order behind Cudlin.
That result netted the Aussie the 2013 title, making it Cudlin's 3rd Straight title in a row with three races still left to go in the championship.
‰ÛÏThat was a tough meeting, Firstly the weather was really bad and we had a few set up problems with the new bike but I‰Ûªm so happy to have wrapped up the championship for a 3rd time." Cudlin stated. It‰Ûªs been an amazing 3 years racing here in Qatar and to win it in 2011, 2012 and now 2013 is really special.
"My team worked so hard all season and it shows just how good they are. In the 11 races we have done so far this season I haven‰Ûªt had one DNF. No mechanicals or faults, and to win 7 of those 11 races shows how good the season was for me.
"It was an interesting decision to switch to the Kawasaki at this late stage of the championship, but the bike went really well so I don‰Ûªt have any complaints.
‰ÛÏWe didn‰Ûªt have the right gearing or suspension for the ZX-10R, so we just had to work with what we had, but the team did a great job so it was just a matter of bringing the title home. For the next round when we have the right springs and gearing I will be a lot faster so I‰Ûªm really positive about the next round.," he continued.
"It was also good to have Anthony Delhalle here too. He is 5 times World Champion and also I‰Ûªm his team mate at SERT (Suzuki Endurance Race Team) ‰ÛÒ I‰Ûªm used to racing with him over 24 hours, not against him for 30 minutes so I‰Ûªm happy I was able to beat him this weekend.
‰ÛÏNow I‰Ûªll turn my attention to the remaining round of the Qatar Championship in 2 weeks. I don‰Ûªt have to stress about the title now so I can just enjoy the racing and hopefully win the 3 races.
"I want to thank my team QMMF for putting their faith in me. I have had a great run with them winning the Superstock Endurance World Cup in 2010 and three straight Qatar championships, so I think it‰Ûªs fair to say we work pretty well together.
"I also want to thank my Sponsors, Family and fans. Everyone was part of this title," Cudlin concluded
Top Image: Alex Cudlin on his way to winning to winning his third straight championship
