Q: You had your best result of the season after finishing fifth, describe your race.
Chris Vermeulen: I got into a good position and the first 10 laps of my race I was quite fast, not as quick as the front guys, but a lot quicker than the group behind me and it gave me the break.
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After about 10 laps I was in fourth place – I was in fourth place for a long time because Dani Predrosa went down – and then (Andrea) Dovizioso past me and I went back to 6th, because (Colin) Edwards went past as well. Then Dovizioso crashed on the same corner as Pedrosa.
I was then in fifth place, and Edwards had a little bit more speed than me and opened a gap of about four seconds. I had a lead of about six or seven seconds to the guys behind me, and that’s where it stayed for quite a long time. We were really consistent at that lap time, but I couldn’t go any quicker to try to stay with Edwards.
The group behind me looked like they had a great race, it was all going on!
Q: The race saw Valentino Rossi claim his 100th grand prix victory, what was it like to be a part of this historic moment in your sport?
Chris Vermeulen: We did a parade, like we do at a lot of races, before the event and there were so many Rossi 100 signs up, of course the Dutch crowd wanted it to happen there.
To be there is definitely something special. The guy definitely deserved the win – he went out and beat us all, 100 times now! He’s done a good job, it is special to be there as a part of that for sure.
Q: Looking ahead to Laguna Seca, it has been a good track for you in the past, how are things looking for you and your team?
Chris Vermeulen: A win is obviously what we are after. Laguna has been good to me, I was pole there in 2006, and I was leading the race until I had a fuel pump problem and I ended up dropping back to fifth.
In 2007 I was second to Casey (Stoner) and last year I was third to Valentino (Rossi) and Casey. The goal this year is to try and step on the top step, where we should have been in ‘06.
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All of the guys are going to be fast, Yamaha have proved they are working really well and Casey has been quick there. Nicky Hayden has been fast there and now he’s on the Ducati.
It’s going to be a tough race, but it’s one of my favourite tracks, something I really enjoy, so fingers crossed we’re going to have a good one and race at the front.
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