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Vermeulen to miss SBK season-opener
Chris Vermeulen will miss the opening round of the World Superbike Championship at Victoria’s Phillip Island on Sunday.

His Kawasaki factory team announced on Monday the Queenslander was not ready to race following an operation to rebuild his knee last July.

The plan is to increase the intensity of his training over the next few weeks and return to racing in the second round at Donnington Park in England on March 27.

“It is unfortunate because it is my home round and I have gone through such a long recovery already,” Vermeulen said in a statement released by the team after doctors decided he needed a few more degrees of movement in the joint.

“It would have been nice to start off the season fit and strong but we did not want to risk any further damage to my knee.

“Just as importantly, I am not fit enough to compete at the top level yet so it is better to not ride at the moment.

“My knee is improving and the recovery is going to plan, so hopefully by Donington I will be ready to race again. I have nearly five weeks from now to get ready for that round.”

Akira Yanagawa will replace Vermeulen in the Phillip Island tests this week and but the team will race just two bikes with regular KRT riders, Briton Tom Sykes and Spaniard Joan Lascorz.

Spaniard Carlos Checa had the fastest time in Monday’s testing, putting his Ducati around the island in a sub-lap record time of 1min 31.383secs.

Of the four remaining Australians, wildcard Josh Waters had the 12th fastest time on his Suzuki, upstaging two-time world champion Troy Corser who was 14th on his factory BMW.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, 24th February: Scrutineering
15:00 – 15:20 – Free Practice 1 Australian Historic
15:25 – 15:45 – Free Practice 1 Australian Superstock 600
15:50 – 16:10 – Free Practice 1 Australian Supersport
16:15 – 16:35 – Free Practice 1 Australian Superbike / Prostock 1000
Friday, 25th February: Scrutineering
Practice
Timed Qualifying
Race 1: Australian Historic
Saturday, 26th February Timed Qualifying: Australian Superbike, Superstock 1000 A, Supersport
Superpole Supersport – Fastest four (4) from qualifying
Superpole Superbike/Prostock 1000 – Fastest eight (8) from qualifying
Race 1: Australian Superstock 600
Race 2: Australian Historic
Race 1: Australian Supersport
Race 2: Australian Superstock 600
Race 3: Australian Historic
Sunday, 27th February Race 1: Australian Superbike & Prostock 1000
Race 2: Australian Supersport
Race 2: Australian Superbike & Prostock 1000