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Vermeulen bags first MotoGP win in France
Chris Vermeulen prospered in the rain to take the first victory of his fledgling MotoGP career in a topsy-turvy, accident-filled French GP last weekend.
The Suzuki rider showed good signs over the winter but had failed to make much of an impact so far this season, until his prospects were improved by a burst of rain just before the start of the French GP.
Something of a wet track specialist, he took advantage when early leaders Sylvain Guintoli and Randy de Puniet both came off their bikes, replacing his own bike before taking and retaining the lead, despite challenges from John Hopkins and Marco Melandri.
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Afterwards, an elated Vermeulen announced: "I'm absolutely over the moon!
"I am really happy for myself, my crew and everyone involved in the team. We'd had a difficult weekend coming into the race as not everything quite went to plan - but we were getting quicker and quicker and I'm sure if it had been dry today we would have improved more."
Melandri eventually eased off to consolidate second place in what he admitted was "an important result" for him after a difficult start of the season, while Australian Casey Stoner also made the podium to increase his lead at the top of the overall standings.
Yet it was his compatriot Vermeulen who stole the limelight on this occasion, with a result that has now lifted him to a healthy fifth in the MotoGP table on 55 points, 47 behind Stoner.
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