From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

World Supersport Championship 2003 – Round 7
Misano Race Preview
20th – 22nd June 2003

VERMEULEN APPROACHES MISANO ON A HIGH

Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) has taken Honda’s all-new World Supersport offering to an unheard of level of success at midseason, winning four out of the six races held so far – all of them in convincing fashion. He kept the best for last at the most recent round at Silverstone, outpacing the second place rider by the vast margin of 12 seconds as he powered into an untouchable lead on all 19 laps.

The combination of Vermeulen and Honda power has won at all sorts of circuits so far. The fast undulating corners of Phillip Island, the fast straights and flip-flop chicanes of Monza, the dizzying turns at Oschersleben and the vast expanses of Silverstone have all been conquered in convincing fashion, in a season of otherwise unparalleled competitiveness throughout the field.

A Ten Kate Honda was at the top of the Misano results last season, and thus Vermeulen and his team mate Karl Muggeridge have been understandably confident in the run up to the last race before all the Supersport teams enjoy a summer break of five weeks.

Honda’s commitment to this year’s World Supersport Championship runs to eight riders and four teams in total, with four Honda riders having scored podiums thus far; Vermeulen, Muggeridge and Iain Macpherson (van Zon Honda CBR600RR) from the regular line up, and Sugo wild card Ryuichi Kiyonari (BKM Honda CBR600RR) shortly before he joined Honda’s MotoGP ranks.

For Vermeulen, who is as mystified as anyone else as to why he has taken such an impressive lead in a championship filled with so many potential race winners, Misano will be another weekend full of opportunity – and memories of how his career started.

“I like the hot weather at Misano, it’s like being at home in Australia and the heat suits me,” said the native of Queensland. “Qualifying and the race are generally really close at this track, which should make it a good race. The grip is poor but its been resurfaced and Pirelli have been working hard to get us a good tyre for the circuit.”

Irrespective of the results at Misano, Vermeulen will carry a useful championship lead from the Italian venue, finding himself no less than 47 points clear of overall second place rider Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha) at present, with van den Goorbergh himself eight points ahead of Katsuaki Fujiwara (Suzuki).

After a shaky start and the misfortune of a DNF at Monza, Muggeridge is looking forward to the second half of the season, feeling he has now got the full measure of the extensively redesigned 2003 CBR600RR.

“I like Misano,” enthused Muggeridge, “the track was bumpy but now it’s been resurfaced it should be awesome. It was the track surface that was holding it back. I hope it’s hot, the Hondas go well in the heat, which should make my job a easier.”

Christophe Cogan (BKM Honda CBR600RR) has battled against a back injury this season but now he is almost fully fit he relishes his chances in Italy.

“The track has had a new surface, which should improve things at Misano,” he opined. “We have had some new parts for the bike and they have made an improvement. My fitness is getting better so I am looking forward to the race.”

Another Aussie rider will see Misano as a welcoming place because it is almost another home round for Broc Parkes (BKM Honda CBR600RR).

“I love Misano; I live about an hour up the road in Bologna so it’s a local one for me,” said the protégé of 1987 World Champion Wayne Gardner. “It’s not such a horsepower track, which should suit us, and I also hope the temperature is hot. Then I’ll be happy.”

Austrian Robert Ulm (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) does not have too long a drive to reach Misano, and the 4.060km venue is very much his kind of track – slow and with lots of corner speed an integral part of a good lap time.

“I like the circuit, it’s actually our test track but we’ve not yet tested there this year!” confessed Ulm before the race. “I’m confident and I see it as one of my best opportunities to get on the podium.”

Ulm’s team-mate Sebastien Charpentier is determined to get back to the excellent early form he showed as a replacement signing for the Klaffi team, especially as he finished 18th at Silverstone, running off circuit twice.

“After the disappointment of finishing outside the points in Silverstone I can’t wait for Misano to come around,” he said. “I think it should be an easier place for the bike set-up than England was, but it will be very hot.”

Iain Macpherson is keen to rebound from a crash at Silverstone, and his podium finish at Misano in 2001 will be an inspiration to him this weekend.

“The circuit is good, I was on pole there in 2001 and finished second in the race – just 0.2 seconds off the winner,” said Macpherson. “It’s one of my favourite tracks of the year and should suit my style.”

Werner Daemen (Van Zon Honda CBR600RR) is looking for his best performance of the year so far.

“There is a new surface at Misano this year which should improve the grip,” said Daemen. “I’ve had some good results at the circuit and am feeling very comfortable on the new Honda CBR600RR this year, simply because it is smaller than last year’s bike. I’ve been riding well in the last few races and have been well placed, but have had some bad luck and have not had the results. Now I’m hoping that that will change and we can get some good finishes over the rest of the season.”

After the exertions at Misano, the championship has a short layoff until Brands Hatch on July 27, for round eight of an 11 event series.