MotoGP
Donington GP: Vermeulen Takes Third
25 giugno 2007 Starting from 12th Vermeulen surged to take third spot in the Nickel and Dime British Grand Prix, his second podium finish of the year. The result coming after two heavy crashes for the talented rider. The master of wet conditions once again proved his ability on an extremely slippery Donington Park. “The start wasn’t too bad. I started from 12th and that’s not easy, but I got through quiet quickly. I think I was up to 3rd at one point, I was behind Colin Edwards when he was behind Dani Pedrosa and I was quiet comfortable sitting there” Vermeulen said after the race. To add to the drama, the Australian fell back through the field after a handful of laps, as he struggled with conditions inside his helmet. “I was having some trouble with my visor, I was getting hot inside and the sweat was making my visor fog. I thought gee I’ve got to do something with this. “I played around with it a bit. Actually, when Casey went passed, he apologised he thought he’d run me off but it was me, I couldn’t see where he was. “I thought I was going to run off and hit a fence or a spectator, anything.” Once the rain eased and as the track dried out, the Suzuki rider set about reeling in The Doctor, Valentino Rossi. He said, “I was catching Valentino slowly, but I could see he was having a lot of trouble with the rear tyre. I wanted to get on the podium, I got through him and I was expecting him to come back at me but I gapped him enough. At the end I could see Colin (Edwards 2nd) and I thought geeze, I might be able to get him as well. But he was too quick.” Vermeulen, who celebrated his 25th birthday during the week, has spent many years at Donington Park, it’s where he cut his teeth as a sixteen year old, chasing his dreams of racing in the big league. The British Grand Prix like a second home race for Vermeulen. “I’ve actually never won a race around Donington. I did British Supersport, Superstock, World Supersport and I’ve always struggled in the rain or the dry. It’s great to be on the podium, so lets do it again.” It was a magic day for Australia, with another double podium effort from the boys from down under. Casey Stoner winning and extending his championship lead, but Vermeulen has now surged to 4th and is closing in on the top 3. The championship has a quick turn around. Saturday it’s Assen and the 9th round of the championship. “Last year we struggled a bit, but in the past on the Superbikes I’ve done the double there and been on pole. I know the track as well as anyone and I’m looking forward to a strong weekend. “Thanks to Dainese and Shoei, I’ve really given my safety gear a work out this weekend and it’s a credit to them I was able to race. Also thanks to the team, I worked them pretty hard this weekend. The Suzuki was great and Bridgestone went 1st and 3rd so what more can you say.” |
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