NEWStorque
Vermeulen to SBK
CHRIS Vermeulen will ride for the Kawasaki World Superbike Racing Team in 2010, campaigning a ZX10R.
have announced they will not race in the Australian Superbike Championship in 2010 (Yamaha will still race Supersport), joining Honda which pulled out this year.
This switch has been anticipated by most in the MotoGP paddock, and despite his obvious talent has been unable to get the Suzuki MotoGP machine on the podium in 2009.
Suzuki is the only factory which hasn’t announced its withdrawal from the Australian championships. Also on the Australian road racing scene there looks to be a shakeup in the Australian Superbike Championship, with Superbike and Supersport classes possibly run with the V8 Supercar series, much like the old Two + Four set-up over a decade ago.
Many might say he’s going from the frying pan into the fire with the switch back to SBK, but he’s better equipped than most to get the best out the ZX10R. Vermeulen’s first race for the new squad will be at his home round of the championship, Phillip Island on February 26-28. “It’s a really good deal and I’m excited about joining Kawasaki from the technical point of view, to race and develop the bike next year and then go out on the new bike for 2011,” Vermeulen said. “WSB is going to be their main project, they are pulling out of MotoGP and they will not be running an AMA team nor a team in the Australian SBK championship - this WSB program is where all their engineers and budget will be focussed. They haven’t won in WSB for a long time and they really want to win races. “The financial backing and resources is very good for this project.” Unfortunately things don’t look all that good for Australia’s Broc Parkes in the factory Kawasaki squad. It looks as though his spot could be taken by either Tom Sykes or British journeyman Shane Byrne. It seems a shame that a rider of Parkes’ talent could be forced home, especially when there are slim pickings for riders back here in Australia. Both Kawasaki and Yamaha
Dates have yet to be set and what will happen with the support classes of the ASBK series is also yet to be confirmed. Further shaking things up is a collaboration between Formula Xtreme promoter Terry O’Neill, the Australian Racing Drivers Club (ARDC), Benalla Auto Club, AVE TV and O’Neill’s own company, the Australasian Superbike Company. Eastern Creek, Winton Raceway and Wakefield Park are either owned or run by the ARDC and the Benalla Auto Club. The important thing here is that this group of companies had decided to run a race series, under the Australian Auto Sport Alliance (AASA) banner without sanction by Motorcycling Australia. It might sound a bit convoluted but the group has put in place a race series for 2010, titled the 2010 Australian Formula Xtreme Championship Series. The five round series kicks off at Wakefield Park on March 26-28, culminating at Eastern Creek on October 29-31. The group will also hold a three round series during December 2010. n
Middleweight Hypermotard DUCATI’S 1100 Hypermotard is about to get a little brother, but not too little a brother. Joining the ranks is a 796cc version with 60kw of power and good torque. The bike has a lower seat height than the 1100cc version and uses a wet clutch, like the 848. A few colour schemes are available, including Ducati Red of course, and although the bike is expected to be on sale in January, a price is yet to be confirmed. n
4 - NOVEMBER 2009