After watching Chris Vermeulen qualify in pole position, the Van Zon Honda TKR team could be forgiven for expecting more than they got from Sunday's World Supersport race at Assen ­ which was absolutely nothing!

Chris was obviously looking forward to a great race, starting once again from the front of the grid. But before he'd managed to complete even one lap a technical problem forced him to retire and start a long and dejected walk back to the pit garage. It wasn't the ending to Chris's brilliant weekend that either the team or Chris had been looking forward to.

"I can't really describe how upset I am at the moment," said Vermeulen. "But that's racing and I'll just have to come back at Imola and do my best once more."

Then, after 12 laps of another action packed Supersport race, the team had to sit in horror and witness a massive pile up at the final chicane, and one that featured their own rider Werner Daemen.

The incident started when Christian Kellner's Yamaha went into melt down mode, blowing its motor in an absolutely spectacular fashion. Unfortunately oil pored onto his rear wheel, and all over the track. Kellner crashed hard and soon another six riders had joined him in what looked like a very ugly incident.

Fortunately no one was seriously hurt, but unfortunately one of the crashers was Werner. He fell heavily on his already injured right shoulder.

"I thought I had re-broken it," said Werner after the race. "But it seems I've just pulled muscles and ligaments again. I'll be fit for Imola though."