Last race motivates Vermeulen for Suzuki

Chris Vermeulen is the only rider to have scored points at every round this year and he is still in the hunt for seventh place in the championship, but this weekend’s Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana is his last appearance in MotoGP for the Rizla Suzuki team before he departs for pastures new.

Grouped in with a quintet of riders - which includes his team-mate Loris Capirossi - disputing seventh in the standings at the final round of the year and separated by just three points, Vermeulen is determined to leave MotoGP with a positive result at the end of his fourth season with Suzuki.

“I am totally focused on going out on a high at Valencia,” he explained. “This will be my last race in MotoGP – for at least a couple of years – and I want to make sure it is one that I can be proud of. My time with the Suzuki team has been great and my crew has worked tirelessly throughout my time here to give me the best bike they can whatever the conditions, so a good result will be as much for them as for myself.”

The Australian added, “I have scored points in every race this year and want to make the last one the highest points scoring one. I will certainly be going for a podium this weekend, I know that will be tough, but that’s the target and one that I would really love to achieve.”