Vermeulen heads back to Australia after day one of test
Added on Friday, January 14th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor
Vermeulen heads back to Australia after day one of test
Chris Vermeulen has returned to Australia after just one day of testing in Sepang, allowing him time to recover from the knee injury that plagued him in 2010.
With Kawasaki embarking on an intensive four-day testing programme in Malaysia this weekend, Vermeulen took to the 2011 ZX-10R for the first time on this week but, after some positive signs on day one, the Aussie has returned home to continue his physiotherapy and exercise regime to allow him to recover full flex in his right knee joint.
Kawasaki has brushed off any suggestion that the test has aggravated the injury but has confirmed that Vermeulen will miss the official test at Portimao at the end of the month. Vermeulen will take part in the final test at Phillip Island, one week before the start of the championship.
“Chris rode on day one of the Sepang tests and was very impressed with the performance of the new bike,” said team manager Paul Risbridger. “He has made great progress with his knee recently, and his recovery is well on schedule.
“After day one we all decided that he did not need to run on track any more at this stage and it was better for him to go home and carry on with his rehabilitation. We also came to a consensus that there was no point in him coming all the way back to Europe for the Portimao tests, as it would just interrupt his overall recovery. Riding the bike is not assisting his recuperation at this stage, so Chris will carry on with his very effective programme of physiotherapy and exercise so that he is ready when it matters most, at the start of the new season.”
