No Nowland - Cudlin Hungry - Benney Happy...

Yamaha Phase One Endurance team manager Russell Benney has today confirmed that Damian Cudlin will ride for the team in the 2008 World Endurance Championship.

Damian first rode with Phase One at Vallelunga in 2002 as an endurance rookie and has developed into one of the most sought after riders in the endurance paddock. Cudlin took third position in the World Endurance Championship with the team in 2006 and both he and Benney are keen to see him improve on that in 2008.

Russell Benney, Phase One team manager: “It is my great pleasure to announce the return of Damian Cudlin to the team and welcome him back after an absence of a year. Damian has a wealth of experience at every circuit in the championship and showed very strongly indeed at Le Mans last season; I cant wait to see him go there this year, still fresh from his winter racing in NZ.

“I think that it would be true to say that I have never seen a rider so hungry for the rostrum. It will be great to work together again, I've missed both his sense of humour and his grit. Team mates Jason Pridmore and Dave Stanton will not want for a better partner for delivering top results. He really is the ideal man for the job.

“Its been a tough negotiation but securing the services of this experienced yet still young rider is crucial to our aim of winning back the title.”

Following the team's very successful pre-season sessions at Almeria and Albacete last week with test riders Glen Richards and Guy Martin, the team go to Le Mans for more testing on the 26th/27th March.

The test will be attended by the full 2008 line up of Jason Pridmore, Damian Cudlin and new rider Dave Stanton from America. Dave has been introduced to the team for the Le Mans 24 Hour on Jason's recommendation and everyone is eager to see how he goes. It couldn’t be more exciting...

Warwick Nowland, who had been scheduled to ride for Phase One this year, has accepted an offer to ride with another team and Phase One wish him every success in 2008.

Surprised?