Chris Vermeulen

Read about Chris Vermeulen, including career highlights, pictures and news of the road racer right here at Motorcycle USA.

The charismatic Australian started his path to MotoGP by claiming the World Supersport Championship in 2003 and moving up to the Superbike class the following season. After two years in SBK, Vermeulen made the jump to MotoGP at the start of the 2006 season, signing with Rizla Suzuki.

Vermeulen spent 2006 transitioning from a successful career in WSB. There were times in 2006 when Chris the V upstaged his American paddock-mate, John Hopkins, the most noticeable moment being Laguna Seca, where the Aussie snagged the pole position and almost the podium before falling short in the final laps. Vermeulen claimed the pole position at Turkey as well, and also had a great run at Phillip Island, his home track, where he charged up through the ranks to finish second.

2007 saw the introduction of the smaller 800cc GP bikes with improved traction control, which required a different riding style and a focus on maintaining corner speed. Chris V adapted well and won a maiden victory at a wet Le Mans circuit in France. It was also Suzuki’s first victory in the four-stroke category. He finished the 2007 season in sixth place with three other podium finishes for the year.

2008 found Chris V struggling to achieve the power he needed from his Suzuki GSV-R. Despite this he managed two third-place finishes at Sachsenring and Laguna Seca and finished eighth overall for the season. He also penned a monthly column called Vermeulen's Inside Line for a cool online magazine by the name of MotorcycleUSA.com.

After a tumultuous 2009 MotoGP season with Rizla Suzuki, the Aussie returned to WSB for 2010, this time piloting a Kawasaki ZX-10R. Vermeulen once again had a difficult season in which he finished 20th after missing the last five rounds due to a knee injury.

For 2011 V will continue with the Kawasaki Racing squad where he will be joined by teammates, Tom Sykes and Joan Lascorz.