Vermeulen steps aside for season

From worldsbk.com

Following a race one incident at the World Superbike round in Brno last weekend, Kawasaki Racing Team rider Chris Vermeulen suffered further damage to his already injured right knee.

The original injury was sustained in Philip Island at the first round of the Superbike World Championship and although Vermeulen returned to the team at Assen in April, his recovery has been very slow due to the severe ligament damage sustained.

The latest damage has set back the recovery process and has reopened the question of whether reconstructive surgery is required to enable Vermeulen to regain full use and control of the knee.

As a result, he will be suspending his race and test activities from the championship so that immediate corrective medical treatment can be sought without delay and to help ensure that he can return to full fitness in preparation for the 2011 Kawasaki Racing Team program.