Vermeulen faces tough task for Kawasaki

[Kat00]

http://www.worldsbk.com/images/stories/news/vermeulen_action_portimao.jpgThis year Australian Chris Vermeulen has taken on the massive challenge of turning Kawasaki's fortunes around in World Superbikes, but it's a role he has embraced, and he expectantly counts himself in the list of riders capable of winning races in 2010.
"I can do it! I've won 10 WSBK races before, been runner-up in the championship, and beaten most of those guys at one stage or another," said Vermeulen. "We've got a new team that's got to gel together and we've got a motorcycle we're trying to develop, so it's about putting every piece of the puzzle together to get up the front. Realistically there are 15 or 16 riders who could win a WSBK race this year - honestly. It's not going to be easy at all, and the depth is the strongest I've seen in a long time."


Vermeulen's first serious run on the Kawasaki ZX-10R was in Portugal last month, which gave him a chance to prioritize what major set-up issues had to be addressed before the start of the championship.


"Portimao was a great test for us in that we learnt a lot about the bike, even though we got a little bit unlucky with some weather. Kawasaki and Showa have developed some new parts from the information we came up with at Portimao and we are going to be testing them at Phillip Island, concentrating on things like weight transfer on the bike from braking to accelerating. They will be our priorities, and when we go into the race weekend it will be all about going as fast as we can! As for 2010, the team is not putting any pressure on me and is saying top 10 results would be great, because they haven't had a lot of them. But personally I want to be in top five consistently starting the season - I'm a racer with no patience, but that's normal. I hope we are going to be competitive at Phillip Island and in the front group challenging."



More... (http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/latest-news/1492-vermeulen-faces-tough-task-for-kawasaki.html)

[Bigdog]

Good luck to him. He'll need it on the kwakka.

[WET4URacing]

if the bike can run at the front he will stick it there. spost to have another new frame now. (again)

[Bigdog]

I hope so, it would be good to see him do well and not just make up the numbers. Go Chris!

[Mozzie]

Fingers X he kicks arss and show the world how good he is just like most of our other Ausie riders.Big fan from the start.

[zRoYz]

Kawasaki make great motors, it is always the handling like ripping up tyres, no drive out of corners, etc that has let them down which is very strange when they can employ engineers from other teams & manufactures with that type of knowledge for development. The Jap manufactures can be a funny lot & because Kawasaki motorcycles is such a small part of Kawasaki heavy industries maybe there to stubborn to look at other directions other than there ideas. Due to pulling out of motogp they have made a real commitment to superbike & I'm hoping with that commitment will finally sort everything out & when they do watch out. I don't expect to much from them this year except constant improvement over past years but think 2011 we will see a new ZX10 that will be a real front runner.

[Captain]

His pre-race video is upbeat, I really hope his post-video will be the same. Last year it really hurt seeing him build himself up, only to be dissapointed time and time again. Go Vermeulen!!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbH80VKXnb0&feature=player_embedded


This is also interesting; Vermeulen and Beattie talk about the evolution of safety gear. Amazing comments about the life of his boots.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RehXyzeypYg&feature=related

[RUSSELL]

good vids, hope he does well this weekend

[1down5up]

criss criss criss not a good start to the first race ....... i didnt get to see it but he throws it away after a couple of laps but was doing very well before he did in 8th place i think

[Devilish]

yeah, got to 8th place and then lost the front heading into turn 4? i think it was...

[1down5up]

yeah on the live timing i think he got 2 bikes in one lap just before it happend ..........he is probbly still getting to know the control tyers and how hard he can push the frunt ( i guess the moto gp frunts are lot better grip wise and so they should be )


well you could say criss got the double ........just the wrong kind ......... hope he is ok ...........better luck next race he was going realy well for where he was starting from ..........think he was up to 6th or 7 th in the 2nd race

[holdontight]

yeah on the live timing i think he got 2 bikes in one lap just before it happend ..........he is probbly still getting to know the control tyers and how hard he can push the frunt ( i guess the moto gp frunts are lot better grip wise and so they should be )


well you could say criss got the double ........just the wrong kind ......... hope he is ok ...........better luck next race he was going realy well for where he was starting from ..........think he was up to 6th or 7 th in the 2nd race
Got up to 5th than started the Kawazaki drift back down the order before the front let go. Good to see him pushing. He'll make a bike out of that thing just you wait and see.

[Cedric]

5th for a Kawasaki? Fuck me drunk that's amazing! My faith has been somewhat restored...

So he threw it away at T4? Honda hairpin? I read somewhere that it sounded serious..

[nutsa]

Yeah didnt look good, carried off on a stretcher. Fingers crossed hes ok and dose good on the kwaka for the rest of the year!

[Cedric]

How could he get so injured at T4? It's not a quick corner (unless he came off coming into it)

[Captain]

Can't seem to find anything on it ... odd .. nothing on the WSBK website, nothing on his site or his facebook page. Hope he's alright.

[Falco]

First off in race 1 was at T4. Second one was at speed up near the hayshed.....big!

[Kat00]

Yeah, it was big alright, Bike followed him into the tyre wall, Ouch.

[dadat178]

Glad to say, doesn't sound like he was hurt too badly, but didn't look good

http://www.kawasaki-racingteam.eu/road-race/news.asp?Id=FEBCB7997

[Andre]

I feel for CV, had high hopes for him. Hopefully his body and mind isn't too damaged by crashing out twice in two races and he can bounce back and be competitive?

[Birdman45]

funnily enough the slower crashes are sometimes the worst. Damien Cudlin at T2 at the Creek anyone?

[Bigdog]

One word: Kawasaki :headshake:

[SIX36]

I don't think it were the bike more Chris pushing it on something still unfamiliar...

[Wattie]

i think bike is still slow, he was riding the wheels off it and showed the world how hard he has to ride that bastard to keep up.

[SIX36]

He ended up Qualifying ok for the 1st round, hopefully with some more testing and improvements on the frame the season will get better.

[Captain]

I think McGee summed it up well (as best as I remember). Vermeulen's Kawasaki is not fast enough yet, what he should have done is race it within its' limits, get some points and keep developing the bike - he's not going to win this year. But when you're out there racing, the desire to win takes over .. you pass a few people and you get overexcited, and end up pushing too hard (or something like that).

[Captain]

Vermeulen talks about Phillip Island. C'mon mate, you can do it :ayyy:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6yQv2LZCUU&feature=player_embedded

[holdontight]

That seem positive. Race two was a gear box f*&k up not a suspention problem so thats a good thing i think:thinking:

[Bigdog]

Bit of a worry when the rear wheel locks up due to mechanical failure. It can't be too good for his confidence. Here's hoping kawasaki can get it together for the next races.

[WET4URacing]

but nodody has commented on his team mate who didnt even last a lap in race 2. it poohed itself on T12

[WET4URacing]

funnily enough the slower crashes are sometimes the worst. Damien Cudlin at T2 at the Creek anyone?

please remind us?

[Naked Twin]

but nodody has commented on his team mate who didnt even last a lap in race 2. it poohed itself on T12

We thought that Kawasaki has suffered enough! Shame really that they are so far from where they should be. Could be a long year, but here is hoping.

Nick

[Captain]

"Vermeulen ruled out for the rest of the season"

This really sucks, he seems to work so hard ... is it incredible bad luck or what is he doing wrong?

[1notop]

A guy slid off and took him out with him. Joys of racing at the back of the grid :(

Oh well
guess we'll just have to enjoy watching Pitty mixing it with the moto2 guys hey :)

[Foghorn]

Chris Vermeulen to undergo knee surgery

Kawasaki Racing Team rider Chris Vermeulen will undergo a knee operation this Friday, after being declared unfit to ride for the remainder of the Hannspree World Superbike Season. Chris attended several consultations last week with a renowned sports surgeon, Dr Pruna, in Barcelona where he underwent further scans to analyze the extent of his complicated right-knee injury. The decision was made yesterday for Chris to undergo keyhole surgery to repair the two of the three damaged ligaments, providing the stability in the knee that has been such a problem for Chris over the last few months.

Although Chris should be mobile within a week after the operation, the post- rehabilitation will be intensive therefore he will be based at his residence in Andorra, near to Barcelona, for physiotherapy for two months after the operation. A full recovery is estimated between four to six months.

Chris has been suffering with the injury since the Phillip Island race and is relieved to finally have a plan of action to ensure a return to full fitness in time for the 2011 Kawasaki race program.

Chris Vermeulen: “The decision to sit out of the remainder of the 2010 race and test season was a mutual one from both me and the team. It is only too apparent that I have not been able to recuperate from my right knee injury sustained at Phillip Island and the crash in Brno further set me back. The team have been patient with my slow recovery but it is not in my best interest or the teams to continue with the lack of progress we’ve made in a championship which is so competitive, even when you are 100% fit! I have sought expert medical advice in Barcelona this week where the specialists have advised I have keyhole surgery to clean up the damaged ligaments. I have been informed that I will be able to walk soon after but I’ll have to undergo extensive physiotherapy for at least two months so we will be based in Andorra for the time being! I will keep you posted after the operation via my website. ”

Akira Yanagawa will replace Vermeulen for the Silverstone round of the Hannspree World Superbike Championship. An announcement will follow regarding who will ride the ZX-10R for the Kawasaki Racing Team for the last three rounds.

[ottospunkmeister]

Mmmmmm... I wonder if Kawasaki will find some excuse to give him the flick now?

[stetto]

Yanagawa, awesome i doubt he will get the results he got when young on a more competitive ZX7R but itd b great if he could

[Captain]

You've gotta feel for this poor bloke
http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sports/superbikes/kawasaki-rider-chris-vermeulen-injured-during-round-four-of-the-world-superbike-championship-at-monza/story-fn5k3gtw-1226051926602

[*Oggy*]

Thankfully not his knee.. Was worried for a bit....

[Mozzie]

This bloke can really really ride, I hope his luck go's his way soon and he can show the world again just how good he is.

[hoffy]

Fuckin hell Kawasaki ! get someone that can ride FFS !!

[Bigdog]

Fuckin hell Kawasaki ! get someone that can ride FFS !!

They have some pretty decent riders, I doubt it's all their fault.

[hoffy]

The new bike needs development and CV is always injured, its not helping the cause thats for sure..

[Stu23]

Its a brand new bike........sometimes it will work at a circuit, sometimes it wont just remember the BMW's when they 1st came out...