Imola: Van Zon race notes

Brilliant end to the season for Van Zon Honda TKR.

In the final race of the year, Chris Vermeulen has left a lasting impression on World Supersport racing by claiming his second podium finish of the season.

The 20 year old finished third at Imola in Italy, after an impressive late charge in the final race of the 12 round world championship. Vermeulen grabbed the best lap time of the race on lap 16 on his way to the podium.

"I made a couple of little mistakes early and I dropped back a bit, but I settled down and started to get back into my rhythm and was pulling the leaders in at the end," said a delighted Vermeulen after the race.

Werner Daemen was unable to race this weekend due to injury. His stand-in rider Paul Young had a difficult race and was forced to retire with brake problems.

Next year Chris moves to the Ten Kate Honda team, swapping places with Iain MacPherson. Werner Daemen will partner MacPherson on the all-new Honda CBR600RR.

"We're all looking forward to getting the new Hondas," said Daemen, "They look great and I'm sure they'll go every bit as good as they look!"

The team will start testing soon with the new Hondas. Next season Van Zon Honda TKR will continue to use Pirelli tyres and WP Suspension.

"The combination of Honda, Pirelli and WP Suspension has been perfect all season so we'll be with them all again next year," confirmed Daemen.

World Supersport race result (revised)

1 Katsuaki Fujiwara, Japan (Suzuki) 40m 15.186s,
2 Stephane Chambon, France (Suzuki) 40m 18.847s,
3 Chris Vermeulen, Australia (Van Zon Honda TKR) 40m 19.746s,
4 Fabien Foret, France (Ten Kate Honda) 40m 24.336s,
5 Jorg Teuchert, Germany (Yamaha) 40m 26.036s,
6 Antonio Carlacci, Italy (Yamaha) 40m 33.051s, 7 Iain MacPherson, GB (Ten Kate Honda) 40m 40.547s,

James Whitham, GB (Yamaha) 40m 23.246s, (finished fourth but excluded due to technical infringement)

Final world championship points:

1 Foret 184,
2 Fujiwara 181,
3 Chambon 162,
4 Paolo Casoli, Italy (Yamaha) 162,
5 Andrew Pitt, Australia (Kawasaki) 126,
6 Christian Kellner, Germany (Yamaha) 94,
7 Whitham 93,
8 Vermeulen 90,
9 Teuchert 89,
10 MacPherson 82.

-vzhtkr-