Mapfre Aspar's Hector Barbera suffered a broken clavicle at the Motegi GP, and while the Spanish rider underwent successful surgery, he will not be fit to race the next MotoGP round at Phillip Island next week. In his place, Australian Damian Cudlin will race the Mapfre Aspar machinery.This will be Cudlin's second appearance in MotoGP, as the twenty-eight-year old replaced an injured Loris Capirossi only weeks early at the Motegi MotoGP. According to Cudlin, "“To get the call up the first time to replace Loris was a big enough shock, but to get another start in MotoGP for another team at the very next race is just unbelievable to me.” Cudlin explained. “You wait your whole life to get a shot at MotoGP and then suddenly two come along at once. If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up!”
Cudlin will ride a Ducati Desmosedici for the Mapfre Aspar Team at his home Grand Prix at Phillip Island next weekend, October 14-16, 2011.
