High hopes for Vermeulen in Moto GP
Wed 05 April 2006
Jonathan Williams, Journalism
Sunshine Coast star Chris Vermeulen’s sights are firmly set on big things in his rookie year.
It was a busy off-season for Vermeulen - in between moving homes in Yandina, he was also in the midst of finalising a contract with the Suzuki team.
But despite making one of the biggest moves in his short racing career, he still made the most of his rare chance to return home. He spent the summer months running the sand dunes of Coolum Beach and riding on his new property with friend and fellow Moto GP rider Casey Stoner.
"It was good to get home and see my family," Vermeulen said.
Fast forward three months and Vermeulen’s move to Suzuki ended a long standing relationship with world powerhouse Honda, in the search for more opportunities racing Moto GP.
There was also another reason for the switch to Suzuki. He had the chance to follow in the footsteps of his racing idol, the late Barry Sheen.
"The team has won world championships in the past with Barry Sheene and Kevin Schwanz, and Kenny Roberts in the later years. I think they're ready to do it again, hopefully in a couple of years we can take that step," Vermeulen said.
In round one in Spain, the 23-year-old finished a respectable 12th. That result could have been considerably better, with world champion Valentino Rossi's first-corner crash setting him back.
"I got a bad start and then got baulked by the crash. So I had to try and get through the field to get a better place. I think some of today may be a bit of inexperience and we really need to spend more time with the race tyres and set up. I have now got some points from the first round with a 12th place which is not too bad really and as long as we can keep improving I’ll be happy,” Vermeulen said on his website immediately after the race.
It has been a meteoric rise for Vermeulen, after dominating all before him on the dirt track scene as a junior, he moved to road bikes where he was an instant success.
After a short time riding 250cc bikes he moved to the World Supersport championship, which he won in 2003.
He’s now among the elite riders in the world and relishing the opportunity to race Moto GP bikes. The next step is to upstage the more-fancied riders and secure the Moto GP world championship.
"I'm there to win races, if there's a name on the leathers in front of me it doesn't matter whose it is,” he said.
Image(s) designed by N/A