Chris Vermeulen entered the World Championship off the back off two debut MotoGP rides at Phillip Island and Istanbul Park in 2005, where he claimed a pair of eleventh places. He joined Rizla Suzuki for a successful debut season in 2006, where he took pole at both Istanbul and Laguna Seca, in wet and dry conditions, with his best position of the year coming at his home race in Australia, where he landed second in the first ever flag-to-flag race. Continuing with Suzuki in 2007, he took his first MotoGP victory at Le Mans, then challenged fellow countryman Casey Stoner at Laguna Seca. 2008 saw Vermeulen take consecutive podiums in Germany and Laguna Seca, while his last season’s best finish was a fifth place at Assen. After a difficult 2009 with Suzuki, Vermeulen moved to the WSBK series with Kawasaki, where he subsequently damaged his knee in a big crash at Philip Island, resulting in full reconstructive surgery. 2011 proved tough as well, as an injury to his elbow from a fall at Monza cut his season short once more. The popular Australian, known for his wet weather prowess, does not have a permanent ride for 2012, but is standing in for injured NGM Mobile Forward Racing rider Colin Edwards at the Le Mans round of the MotoGP championship.