The Cudlin brothers, Damian and Alex, have been replaced by fellow Australian Glen Richards on the Phase One Yamaha team for the final round of the Endurance World Championship, set to take place at the Losail Circuit in Qatar on 14 November.

British Superbike rider Richards will be joined by James Ellison for the Qatar 8-Hours in Doha, a circuit that both riders have enjoyed success at in the past during previous EWC outings.

“The unplanned limitations to the budget meant that we could no longer offer Damian and Alex Cudlin the package we had agreed for Qatar and were forced drop them,” team manager Russell Benney explained. “That was one of my most difficult times. I feared that it would be impossible to fulfil our ambitions for the race but I was relieved when I found just how many riders wanted to do it.”

For the Cudlins, it spells the end of a disappointing season with Phase One, with best results of fifth in Spain at Albacete and 12th at the Suzuki 8-Hours proving the highlights of the year on the new big-bang YZF-R1.

Ellison has had a superb BSB season for Airwaves Yamaha in 2009, while Richards has suffered a frustrating season of injuries as a member of the HM Plant Honda team.

In more positive news for Australian fans, former double world champion Warwick Nowland will be taking part in the Qatar event alongside Arie Vos and Olivier Depoorter on an RMT21 Honda CBR1000RR.