Rizla Suzuki's
Chris Vermeulen has played down speculation that he may start this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix with the advantage of having raced at Misano before, pointing out that the Italian track is very different this time around
The
MotoGP series heads to the Italian riviera for the newest round on its calendar with the Suzuki team the only one to have two riders in the top five of the standings, following much improved form from Vermeulen and
John Hopkins is the middle part of 2007. The pair currently share fourth place overall, on 124 points, with Australian Vermeulen getting the nod in the tie-breaker by virtue of his win at Le Mans in May.
The former WSBK rider took on the challenge of Misano between 2000-05, but the Adriatic coast venue has undergone major changes since last season. Constructed in 1972, it hosted the Italian Grand Prix throughout the 1980s and early '90s, but the circus will return to find that the direction of travel has been reversed.
“I am one of the few riders that have been to Misano before but, with the track changing direction, the only advantage that will give me is that I will know where to park my motorhome!" Vermeulen said, happy that the MotoGP field will get an extra hour of practice on Friday to adapt, "I really enjoyed racing at Misano, and got a couple of second places there in 2005, so I will certainly be looking to repeat that feat - if not better it - but we are going to Italy a bit blind as we don't know what the surface will be like, so tyre choice is going to be very important on Thursday."
