Team MRC Austria confirmed Damian Cudlin in its rider line up this weekend, marking the Australian’s return to the IDM series in Germany for 2010.

Officially announced at the Team’s launch in Linz on the weekend, Cudlin will partner Austrians Yves Polzer and Michi Ranseder aboard Fritz tuned Yamaha R6’s in the IDM Supersport class.

Cudlin, who suffered mixed fortunes in the AMA in 2009, says he’s excited to join the Austrian squad and return to the series where he enjoyed much success on route to third in the championship in 2008.

“I’m really happy to have secured a competitive ride – finally one that I believe is capable of winning in 2010,” Cudlin said. “Last year was really tough riding for different teams most weekends and it became very frustrating to be honest. I felt I was capable of a lot more than I achieved in the AMA but politics played a big role over there.

“This year I plan to put 2009 behind me and get my career back on track. I’ve been given a great opportunity by the guys at MRC Austria and I plan to make the most of it. I only have one target in 2010, and that’s the IDM title.”

Team Manager Wolfgang Pernter, former manager of Gerin Ducati’s World Superbike Team between 1999-2001, shared Cudlin’s enthusiasm for the season ahead and is confident his crew can fight at the front in 2010.

“We’ve really stepped up our program this year and the addition of Damian to our rider line up is a real boost to our team. He’s a talented and intelligent rider who will be a force to be reckoned with this season, and we look forward to working with him in 2010.” Pernter said.

The team will begin its testing program in Spain this month, followed by further tests in Germany before the IDM season opener in April.