Full Aussie line-up for Assen WSBK

Australia's Chris Vermeulen will finally make his world superbike return at the famous Dutch circuit of Assen this weekend.

The 28-year-old has been out of the saddle since injuring his right knee in the season opener at Phillip Island, but after a recent arthroscope he's ready to renew acquaintances with his factory Kawasaki.

"My knee is improving every day since I had keyhole surgery and I have a good feeling in most of its range," said Vermeulen.

"The difficult part now is getting enough bend but also strength and stability in my knee because I don't want to turn up to just ride around.

"I really enjoy racing at Assen and have had successful results there in both superbikes and in MotoGP, and I also get a lot of support there because of  my Dutch heritage. I therefore hope that I can put on a good show as I join the team once again," added Vermeulen.

As far as championship honours are concerned, Vermeulen - a three time winner at Assen way back in 2004-2005 - knows that 2010 is now beyond him as he looks ahead to an all-out attack on a brand new Kawasaki in 2011, but the same can't be said for his rapidly-improving comatriot Troy Corser.

The dual world champion just missed out on scoring BMW's first podium in the last round at Valencia, and he's now right in the thick of a logjam battling for sixth spot in the championship.

Corser has never "nailed" a race at Assen - inexplicable for a rider who has 38 world superbike wins to his credit - but with recent improvements in acceleration and top speed he now has a good chance to break his drought.

"In the early years of my career we used to race on the old Assen circuit, which I liked a lot. It was an old-school kind of track, the sort you used to get a lot of in the 1970s: flat, quick and with a lot of long, sweeping corners," said Corser. "The character of the circuit has been retained, despite a series of modifications, but it has lost some of its appeal for the riders.

"That's not the case for the fans, though; this is still a great event and the atmosphere's fantastic. At Assen you have to take a big risk to be really ultra-fast, and that doesn't necessarily suit my riding style.

"If the bike isn't set-up perfectly you lose a lot of time -- especially in the last section through the three right-handers and the long left-hander afterwards. I'm just taking each race as it comes," revealed Corser.

Following a long convalescence, Newcastle's Broc Parkes (Honda) will also make his return at Assen after breaking his tibia in the pre-season, ensuring a full Aussie presence for the first time this year. Port Macquarie's Andrew Pitt will be the fourth Australian in action on another BMW.

Briton Leon Haslam (Suzuki) currently leads the 13 round title on his factory Suzuki. Haslam finished on the podium in both races last year on a privateer Honda, with the two races won by American Ben Spies and Japan's Noriyuki Haga.

That snapped an arresting Australian streak at Assen, with Vermeulen's commanding run in 2004-2005, followed by four Troy Bayliss victories from 2006-2008.

Ducati rider Haga, the lap record holder at Assen, broke through for his first win of the year in race two at Valencia, and he's fully aware that he'll have to maintain those exacting standards so that Haslam doesn't extend his championship lead at Valencia.

Haslam is currently on 123 points, ahead of Italy's Max Biaggi (Aprilia, 105) and Spain's Carlos Checa (Ducati, 80), Haga (79) and Briton Jonathan Rea (Honda, 60).  This year has already produced four race winners, only one less than for the entire 2009 season.

Australian readers take note, the live coverage of the fourth round of the World Superbikes is on Fox Sports 2 at 8.00pm Sunday.
 
WORLD SUPERBIKE STANDINGS (after round three of 13):
1 Leon Haslam, Great Britain, Suzuki (123)
2 Max Biaggi, Italy, Aprilia (105)
3 Carlos Checa, Spain, Ducati (80)
4 Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Ducati (79)
5 Jonathan Rea, Great Britain, Honda (60)
6= James Toseland, Great Britain, Yamaha (50)
6= Sylvain Guintoli, France, Suzuki (50)
8= Michel Fabrizio, Italy, Ducati (46)
8= Troy Corser, Australia, BMW (46)
10 Cal Crutchlow, Great Britain, Yamaha (41)
19 Andrew Pitt, Australia, BMW (3)