Chris Vermeulen secures MotoGP fill-in ride

According to twitter releases from Edwards, Vermeulen was on the shortlist for the fill-in ride, along with Leon Haslam, with the Aussie confirmed as the replacement rider on May 9. The one-off ride is a welcome return to top flight racing for Vermeulen, who last raced a MotoGP bike in 2009. The Aussie then had a couple of seasons, interrupted by knee and elbow injuries, in World Superbikes with the Kawasaki Racing SBK Team.

Vermeulen's return at Le Mans is particularly relevant, as he scored his only MotoGP race win, on the Rizla Suzuki, at a wet Le Mans race in 2007. During his time with the Suzuki factory squad from 2006 until 2009, Vermeulen achieved three pole positions, with his Le Mans victory the only premier-class four-stroke win for Suzuki.

"First of all I would like to wish Colin a speedy recovery," Vermeulen said upon securing the ride on the CRT bike. "I am grateful to have the opportunity to race back in MotoGP with the NGM Mobile Forward Racing team. I am looking forward to my first time on the bike being at Le Mans, a circuit that holds great memories for me including a victory in 2007. I am excited to be racing at the top level of motorcycling again and look forward to working with the team."

For his part, NGM's Managing Director, Marco Curioni, gave Vermeulen a big rap in announcing his inclusion in the team for the French MotoGP round.
"In this unfortunate situation that sees Colin Edwards unable to race until the Catalunya GP, we take the opportunity to involve Chris Vermeulen in the team for the Le Mans GP," Curioni said in a team release.
"Several members of the team have previously worked with him and I believe that Chris will immediately find a good feeling with the team. Vermeulen is an expert rider in MotoGP with experience working with the electronics and the correct use of the tires, which are two areas in which we are currently working. Chris has previously won at Le Mans and knows the track well. I would like to wish Chris good luck and send all my best wishes for a quick recovery to Colin, who is on his way back home."

Edwards had surgery to reset and plate the fracture at the Instituto Unversitario DEXEUS in Barcelona this week, and is now on his way home to Texas. His consulting surgeon Doctor Javier Mir has advised him to not race again until the Catalunya Grand Prix (3rd June). This is in part due to the American having broken the same bone four times before, meaning that the recovery should not be rushed. He will begin physical therapy in about a week.

Image: motogp.com