Dry win `Ultimate Goal´ for Vermeulen

Two and a half seasons into his MotoGP career, Rizla Suzuki´s Chris Vermeulen is still chasing an elusive first dry weather victory. One of his best chances of the season will come this weekend at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, with the Australian having had two strong World Championship performances and superbike success at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Speaking at the Hard Rock Café autograph session held San Francisco on Tuesday, Vermeulen reflected on the task at hand and revealed that he was certainly hopeful of going one better than his runner-up spot last year.

`Last year we finished second and had a good race. If we can repeat that it´s gonna be a great weekend, but the ultimate goal is to try to win one in the dry and I think this week we'll have a good shot,´ said the Suzuki star.

`However, everybody´s going to be there and be very fast, so we´ll have to wait and see.´

One of the riders sure to be speedy at the American track is home rider and Rizla Suzuki wildcard Ben Spies and, whilst he will be rivalling Vermeulen for top billing on Sunday, the latter was full of praise for the newcomer and his familiarity with the scene of the latest MotoGP round.

`Ben raced at that track probably more than anybody else that will be there this weekend; he has a lot of experience on this track and maybe we can learn a few things from him with his knowledge there. He´s a fast rider and it will be great to have him in the team, but we obviously want to beat him as well,´ he concluded.

Vermeulen claimed his first podium of 2008 at Sachsenring last time out.