World SuperSport 2003 - Round 8 - Brands Hatch

Round eight of the World Supersport championship takes place under English skies on Sunday 27 July, at the legendary Brands Hatch circuit in Kent, a place the World Championship leader Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) knows particularly well.

Vermeulen may have been on the World scene for the past few years, but he cut his racing teeth in the British Championships after moving to the UK from his native Australia to advance his career. The young Aussie, only 21-years-old, has won four races so far this season, maturing into his long-standing status of championship leader as each race weekend has passed by.

Even allowing for a fall in the last round, Vermeulen still leads the championship by a healthy 35 points, and all despite the niggling complications of a dislocated right thumb, picked up way back at round four.

“I’ve been getting a lot of physio but it is still dislocated,” said Vermeulen. “It isn’t painful at all so I can still ride a bike. Considering what happened in Misano I am really pleased to come back from the summer break with a strong lead in the championship. If I can come away from Brands with a good top five finish I’ll be happy.”

Vermeulen may face his stiffest test yet at Brands, a track which has a habit of delivering close WSS races in recent years. The circuit layout has been subtly altered at the approach to Dingle Dell and it will be another challenge for the mass of Supersport riders to learn, especially at what is one of the most difficult circuits imaginable.

“I heard that the there are changes at Brands Hatch so I am looking forward to seeing them,” continued Vermeulen. “I understand it’s not that much different, so that should be good. I finished eighth there last year, in the really difficult race with four starts. I like the track and it’s really cool having over 100,000 people packed in around the place. The track layout itself is not my favourite one but it is up there. It’s technical and it does take a lot of time to learn. In my first year I wasn’t the quickest there.”

Commitment and rhythm are two prerequisites each rider must possess to be in with a chance of a podium at Brands, and in the strong line up of eight Honda supported riders, there are several who have already passed the test well enough to have taken podiums of some colour in national and international competition.

Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) is a former WSS winner at Brands, a fact that gives him a fillip going into this weekend.

“I was the first ever rider to win on a CBR Honda in World Supersport and it was my first WSS win as well, so I have good memories of the place. It should work out all right for us this weekend but you always have to play it by ear.”

Like Vermeulen, Muggeridge has had some exposure to his race machine during the short mid-season break in the Supersport calendar, after the last race at Misano on June 22.

“It was good to get out on the bike again before we head off to Brands but it was just a bit of steady going at the Honda rider day in Assen - nothing too stressful. It would have been good to have more of a test.”

Sitting one place ahead of Muggeridge, seventh in the championship table, is another fast Aussie, Broc Parkes (BKM Honda CBR600RR). A Supersport rookie this season Parkes scored a podium finish at the last round, boosting his morale at a crucial time in his development as a Supersport competitor.

“For the team, the sponsors and myself, the podium finish was important and I'm delighted to finally get to sample the podium at World Championship level,” said Parkes. “Next time I intend to be up a step or two! I’ve been using the gap in the calendar since Misano to work hard on my fitness to ensure that I put on a good show at Brands Hatch.”

Parkes’ more experienced BKM Honda team-mate Christophe Cogan will be going out to battle his way into the top ten of the championship at Brands.

“I’m not too far off in the championship, eleventh, and between seventh and the twelfth place in the series there are only five points of a gap. Everything is possible and my objective remains to be in the top ten,” said Cogan.

Robert Ulm (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) has great experience in World Superbike but this is his first year as a World Supersport factory supported rider. Thirteenth overall at present his form has varied, although his determination to succeed remains constant.

“I have not had any races or tests since Misano – only in my head,” quipped Ulm in the run up to the season re-start. “I like Brands, especially because of the big crowd but I have never been on a Supersport bike there before. I have three days of holiday in Italy before I fly to England, so I should be fully rested and prepared.”

For Sebastien Charpentier, Ulm’s team-mate, Brands Hatch is a short hop across the La Manche, and a hop that he always enjoys. “I like Brands Hatch and the atmosphere is just incredible at this race.” Sitting in 14th place after being a mid-season inductee into his Austrian based team, Charpentier will be looking for his first podium of the year.

Iain Macpherson (van Zon Honda CBR600RR) has already scored a third place this season, and is a previous Brands podium finisher to boot. Macpherson will be at the same disadvantage as his peer group in terms of learning the new section of the Brands circuit, however, but he thinks that few will have any problems with it.

“I haven’t seen the track mods at Brands in person but it seems to be only the top end of Dingle Dell, so it’s shouldn’t be that different. It looks quite good from what I’ve seen on TV,” confirmed the 1999 championship runner-up. “I was racing in Belgium at Zolder recently and I was only two seconds behind the leader, so I’ve had a good chance to sharpen up again for Brands - I feel pretty good on the bike already.”

Werner Daemen, Macpherson’s team-mate has enjoyed the perfect preparation for the Brands weekend, posting the best possible showing at the aforementioned Zolder race.

“Our preparations for Brands have gone well, especially by winning a race a few days ago in my national championship. I think that shows we are sharp and ready for the next round.”

Another long break in race action will feature after Brands, with the next round coming at Assen on 7 September.

Quick Q & A with Chris Vermeulen in the lead up to Brands