MotoGP rider Chris Vermeulen is considering returning to World Superbikes on unfinished business.
The Sunshine Coast’s fastest dairy farmer was world Supersport champion in 2003 before moving to Superbikes in 2004 and finishing second in 2005.
He has been in MotoGP for the past four years, but has decided to leave his Suzuki factory team after disappointment with technical development of the bike and top-end speed.
“I don’t know yet what I’m doing next season but I hope to know before the next race in Portugal (October 4),” he said yesterday while in Brisbane.
“There are some good opportunities in World Superbikes and offers in GP.”
Vermeulen is still in talks with Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Aprilia World Superbike teams, while he is also considering staying in MotoGP.
“I’m not looking at the team that can pay me the most but the one that can give me the best results,” he said. Courier Mail
“I’m also seriously considering some World Superbikes options and I’ve got offers from three or four manufacturers to be a factory rider.
“I believe if I go with one of these (World Superbikes offers) I can seriously challenge to win races and hopefully the title.
“I’ve said to my management whatever I get on, and I don’t expect to go on any bike at world championship level and win every week, but I want to be on a package that gives me the opportunity to show my potential and race where I think I should be, which is up the front.”
Should he return to the World Superbikes, Vermeulen insists he wouldn’t view that as a step down.
“It’s a world championship in its own right,” he said.
“You look at some of the legends that have come out of there like Troy Bayliss. There’s a lot of very good riders in that championship.”
Vermeulen achieved his first MotoGP podium finish when second at Phillip Island in 2006. Sunshine Coast Daily
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