After a strong start Hopkins slotted into second behind the dominant Ducati rider, but Vermeulen was soon on a charge and - after overtaking both
Valentino Rossi and Hopkins within five laps - closed to within a second of Stoner.
Sadly for those eager to see a battle, Stoner remained just out of Vermeulen's reach, before the
MotoGP World Championship leader eased away to a five-second victory during the second half of the event, with Hopkins 16 seconds down in third. Meanwhile, a massive 23-second void separated Stoner from fourth placed
Marco Melandri - not helped by Rossi's lap five retirement.
"I am very happy to be on the podium," said Vermeulen, also second to Stoner at Laguna Seca. "I got a good start from the third row, which was nice because I was dreading starting back there as it is so difficult to pass around here. I got up to fourth early on, but I still had to pass John and Valentino - two of the hardest guys in the paddock to get around. After I got through them I tried to catch Casey and thought I was doing so, but I think I used up a bit too much of my rear tyre trying to catch him and at the end he pulled away a bit.
"I said earlier this year that there would be two Rizla Suzukis on there before the end of the year, and I am very pleased to have been proved right. Obviously I'm happy to be in front of John, but congratulations to him and the whole team on this great result," added Vermeulen.
Vermeulen - who will stay at Suzuki next season - and Hopkins - heading for Kawasaki in 2008 - are now separated by just four points in a battle for fourth in the championship.
