Damian Cudlin replaces injured Alex De Angelis for Australian MotoGP at Philip Island

THE crowd will have a third local hope to cheer on in this weekend’s Australian MotoGP, with Damian Cudlin hired to replace the injured Alex De Angelis.

ALCANIZ, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 28: Damian Cudlin of Australia and Paul Bird Motorsport looks on in box during the MotoGP of Spain - Qualifying at Motorland Aragon Circuit on September 28, 2013 in Alcaniz, Spain. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)

THE crowd will have a third local hope to cheer on in this weekend’s Australian MotoGP, with Damian Cudlin hired to replace the injured Alex De Angelis in this weekend’s race.

De Angelis was seriously injured in a crash during final practice for the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi last weekend. He is still under observation in intensive car at Dokkyo Hospital in Mibu with head, lung and spinal injuries.

Cudlin, who turns 31 the day after the race, is an experienced international campaigner in the Endurance World Championship and German Superbike Championship, and has several Moto2 and MotoGP starts to his name in the recent past.

Damian Cudlin will give Australian fans another reason to cheer at Philip Island this weekend.

“First and foremost, I want to wish Alex De Angelis a full and speedy recovery from his injuries,” Cudlin said in a team statement.

“It was a nice surprise for me to receive an offer from Team e-motion Iodaracing, although, if I’m honest, I was a bit hesitant to replace Alex under these circumstances- but after hearing the positive news of Alex’s recovery progress, we agreed to do it and I couldn’t be more excited to be riding in MotoGP again!

“Obviously, it won’t be easy for me and I’m not expecting any miracles. I just want to do the job that I’m there for- give the team good feedback, try and stay upright, and get us to the finish.

“I really want to thank the Team e-motion Iodaracing for the opportunity and I can’t wait to throw my leg over a MotoGP bike again!”

Damian Cudlin comes unstuck during Saturday practice at the 2011 Australian MotoGP.

Cudlin will join Jack Miller and Anthony West on the grid, the latter also making his first MotoGP start of the year as a replacement rider.

West, last year’s Assen Moto2 race winner, split with the QMMF Racing Team after the Misano round but has picked up a ride with the AB Cardion squad in MotoGP with regular rider Karel Abraham ruled out for the three flyaway races.

The 34-year-old world veteran is also expected to line up on the MotoGP grid next week in Malaysia, which would be his 200th start across the sport’s three world championship classes.

Cudlin’s addition brings the total of Australian riders taking part in this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix to seven.

Rising Australian star Josh Hook will make his second start in Moto2 as the replacement for former race winner Dominique Aegerter, injured in a crash at Aragon last month.

In Moto3, regular rider Remy Gardner will be joined for the weekend by wildcard riders Olly Simpson and Matt Barton.

Originally published as Damian Cudlin replaces injured Alex De Angelis for Australian MotoGP at Philip Island