Kawasaki rider Chris Vermeulen will undergo knee surgery this weekend after the team declared that he was unfit to finish the World Superbike season. Vermeulen's injury has plagued him for most of the World Superbike season, and he spent the past week consulting with renowned sports surgen, Dr. Pruna. Pruna, Kawasaki, and Vermeulen decided for Chris to undergo keyhole surgery to give him the stability he needs.
Vermeulen will be mobile within a week after surgery, but he will likely be out for the rest of the season, as the estimated full recovery time is four to six months.
Kawasaki will replace Vermeulen with Akira Yanagawa for the Silverstone round of the World Superbike. After the Silverstone race, Kawasaki will announce Vermeulen's replacement for the rest of the season.
Chris Vermeulen said: “The decision to sit out of the remainder of the 2010 race and test season was a mutual one from both me and the team. It is only too apparent that I have not been able to recuperate from my right knee injury sustained at Phillip Island and the crash in Brno further set me back. The team have been patient with my slow recovery but it is not in my best interest or the teams to continue with the lack of progress we’ve made in a championship which is so competitive, even when you are 100% fit! I have sought expert medical advice in Barcelona this week where the specialists have advised I have keyhole surgery to clean up the damaged ligaments. I have been informed that I will be able to walk soon after but I’ll have to undergo extensive physiotherapy for at least two months so we will be based in Andorra for the time being! I will keep you posted after the operation via my website.”
