Chris Vermeulen is on schedule to take part in his first test of the 2011 Kawasaki Racing Team Ninja ZX-10R at Sepang in January, but he still faces the prospect of a few more weeks on crutches before the World Superbike test.
Having suffered extensive knee damage in a Superbike crash at Phillip Island, and then having an operation to repair cartilage and ligament damage mid-season. Vermeulen has not ridden since Brno in July, and he remains on crutches at present.
He had hoped to be off them last week, but his specialist has advised him to wait a while longer, as it will help with his ultimate recovery. Vermeulen headed to the sun in Australia last weekend to continue his path back to full fitness.
Chris Vermeulen says: "Everything is good, but I am still on crutches, which is driving me nuts! The real safe time for this kind of recovery is five months, so I have about a month left to run. The Doctors know what they are doing with it and I asked them if I would still be OK to ride the superbike in January."
"He is confident with that. It will not be easy, but I will not do any damage by riding the bike in January. After my last bit of physio in Barcelona this week we will be going to the UK to visit the team's workshop, then we will go and see Toni's parents and then we head off to Australia."
Vermeulen was a more than interested visitor at the recent Aragon World Superbike tests, watching Tom Sykes and Katsuaki Fujiwara put the new Kawasaki ZX-10R through its paces around the Spanish circuit.
Chris Vermeulen says: "The new bike looks good on track. Tom and Katsuaki have completely different riding styles but they were both going well on the bike, so that is good news all round."
Vermeulen will be part of a three rider official Kawasaki Superbike push in 2011, with Joan Lascorz joining Sykes and Vermeulen.