After his rookie world championship season, Australia's Chris Vermeulen today officially announced he will join a satellite Ten Kate Honda Team for the 2002 World SuperSport season.

The 19 year old will race in a brand new team under the banner of Ten Kate Honda and will partner Werner Daemen on the yellow Honda's in the world championship battle next year. The team has the backing of Belgium Honda and will run under the guidance of the world renowned Gerrit Ten Kate.

From his base in the United Kingdom, Chris said, "It should be really good actually. The size of the team isn't as big but with the engines and the tyres that I'll be running on next year it should be a big improvement on what I had this year. Gerrit Ten Kate is the best Honda tuner in the world."

In the season just finished, the two Ten Kate team bikes were only out of the top ten in qualifying twice from the twenty-two attempts. Vermeulen seeing how quick the CBR600's can be first hand.

"Yeah definitely, especially in practice and qualifying, the bikes are just so fast."

The new team providing team owner Gerrit Ten Kate the opportunity to bring the Queenslander under his banner. "I like Chris Vermeulen a lot. I think Chris has a huge future. We have big plans for our team and I want Chris on one of our bikes. He will play a big part in the future of Ten Kate Honda."

With plenty of riders lining up for the ride, Chris was ecstatic to be approached by the Holland based team.

"Gerrit thought I was a done deal with Castrol Honda, but when he found out I was looking he was interested and put together a deal to ride in the second team. I can't wait actually, this year was hard learning the tracks probably not on the best bike out there, but next year should be different and I can't see any reason why I won't be on the podium."

"Castrol Honda couldn't really give me an answer, they don't know what they'll be doing next year so I had this opportunity from Ten Kate and I didn't really want to wait so I signed at Imola."

Vermeulen will start testing with Ten Kate in November.

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