Vermeulen ready to bounce back in San Marino
The Australian, who turns 28 on June 19, injured his right knee in a high-speed crash at the Phillip Island season opener, which eventually required surgery and a short period of convalescence before he returned to action at round 4 in the Netherlands. Ever since he has been safe in the knowledge that he can't do any more structural damage to the recuperating knee - but with the sobering fact that he will probably require a full reconstruction once he retires from racing.
"Everyday life hasn't been such a hassle for me (since getting the injury), and if I was a builder or house painter I would be fine," said Vermeulen, "but on a bike there is a lot of bend and push going through the knee, and that's where I've had problems. Early on I had to lift my seat about 20mm and lower the footpegs on the Kawasaki, and that had a big impact on the bike's handling. But I didn't really have a choice, as a full reconstruction would have kept me off the bike for a minimum of six months, and that just wasn't possible with lots of important stuff starting soon, such as testing the all-new Kawasaki."
Despite the Kawasaki struggling to match the pace of its Japanese and European rivals, Vermeulen believes he will still be a powerful force at the next round in Misano on June 27.
"It was always my goal to be strong there, and the big inroads I made in America have given me even more confidence. I finished second behind Casey (Stoner) in the 2007 MotoGP race there, and it's a circuit I know really well. I am working my butt off while I'm back in Australia, and I hope to hit the ground running in Misano."
