WSBK – Chris Vermeulen ends his 2010 season –

Chris Vermeulen closes his 2010 season

WSBK - Chris Vermeulen ends his 2010 season -

Injured to the knee at the start of the season at Phillip Island, Chris Vermeulen has tasted again in Brno and has decided, in agreement with the Kawasaki Racing team, to end his 2010 season. He promises to return to good form in 2011… with the new Ninja !

Badly injured in the knee at the opening of the season at his home in Phillip Island, Chris Vermeulen was mown down by Neukirchner from the first corner of the first race last Sunday in Brno (read and our) … Courageous, the Australian took the second start but had to retire after just a few laps as his right knee again made him suffer too much.

In agreement with the official Kawasaki Racing team, Chris has therefore decided to put an end to a disappointing 2010 season in order to better prepare for his 2011 season: a new year that the Greens promise much more flourishing than the previous ones. !

Because if we exclude the "smoking" Petronas de Fogarty in 2005 and 2006 and the small point collected by MV Agusta in 2007, we have to go back to 2004 not to see Kawa appearing behind his little WSBK comrades….

This year again, the Akashi firm brings up the rear in the constructors’ standings with 55 small points collected in nine events – therefore 18 races – against 163 points for BMW, 206 for Yamaha, 214 for Honda, 276 for Ducati, 305 for Suzuki. and 358 for Aprilia.

At the start of the season, however, we hoped – without really believing it? – that the arrival of Vermeulen would wake up the Ninjas. But no more than Suzuki in MotoGP, the colt of Barry Sheene could not restart the Kawasaki machine in the World Superbike. A motorcycle behind the sharpened competitors on one side, a continuously bruised knee on the other: Chris couldn’t do anything.

Next year, however, the coolest Australian rider will benefit from the services of a new Ninja – already heralded by its designers as the "next benchmark", of course (read) – and one knee can -be "brand new" too !

"I was not in good shape and therefore could not ride properly", admits Vermeulen:"Kawasaki is happy that I’m taking the time to get back on my feet, so that I can come back and test the new bike in full possession of my means.".

Under contract with the Ninjas for next year, the n ° 77 hopes to be back in the saddle this fall (October or November): "it’s a bit of a shame because I will miss a few tries, but they want me to come back 100% strong", supports Vermeulen.

From the next few days, the pilot will know whether or not he should go to the pool table or not in order to settle his knee handicap definitively. But "whatever the decision, I will be at 100% of my ability getting back on the bike !", promises the vice champion of Mondial Superbike (2005) and youngest champion of Mondial Supersport (2003). !

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *