Vermeulen set to return at Assen
Added on Monday, April 11th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor
Vermeulen set to return at Assen
Chris Vermeulen will return to World Superbikes action this weekend at Assen, after delaying his anticipated return at Donington three weeks ago.
The former MotoGP rider, who has struggled with injury for more than a year, was expected to make a return to action at Donington Park back in March but, after riding during practice on the Friday, the team deemed that his injured knee still not good enough to race.
But the former Rizla Suzuki man will race this weekend in the Netherlands, bringing the three-man Kawasaki World Superbikes team back to full strength, with Tom Sykes and Joan Lascorz also preparing for this weekend’s round.
And the Penrith based team are more than confident ahead of their short hop across the North Sea, with Lascorz claiming a fifth place finish at Donington last week whilst Sykes demonstrated a strong pace to claim a front-row start in the Superpole.
“We showed we had good pace at Donington and Tom proved that with a great ride during Superpole to get on the front row but was unlucky to crash out of race one when well placed,” said team owner, Paul Bird. “Joan did brilliantly to bring the bike home in fifth in race two and I expect both riders to be challenging for podiums again this weekend.
“It was very important Chris rode at Donington and has had further time to recuperate so I’m hopeful he’ll be able to be competitive too. Kawasaki’s last win in World Superbikes came here five years ago so it’s about time there was another one.”
