Description
Additional photos of this Chris Vermeulen bodywork are available here for your perusal.
Chris Vermeulen made his professional racing debut in 1999 whilst competing for the Australian Superbike Championship. Despite his limited experience, the young Vermeulen managed to secure an 8th place standing at the end of the season — a feat that was made only better by a best finish of 4th place and an overall win amongst privateer riders.
After seeing Chris Vermeulen’s early promise, the great Barry Sheene took the Aussie under his wing and arranged for him to ride in the British Supersport and Superstock classes. Sheene also got him his World Supersport break with Castrol Honda. Interestingly, Vermeulen always had a “seven” in his race number as a tribute to Barry Sheene.
While racing under Ten Kate, Vermeulen rode a Honda Fireblade to fourth place in the 2004 Superbike Championship. He finished as the only non-Ducati rider in the top eight, and he took a total of four first-place podium finishes over the course of the season. The following year, he redoubled his efforts, taking his first-ever pole at Assen and finishing runner-up in the series.
Nevertheless, Honda refused to extend his contract. Seeing the writing on the wall, Vermeulen quit HRC and signed with Team Suzuki in 2006 alongside John “Hopper” Hopkins. That season, he rode to his first MotoGP pole and he finished second at Phillip Island in a nail-biting wet-weather performance.
Chris Vermeulen raced the bodywork you see before you at Phillip Island in 2007. It was designed as an homage to his mentor Barry Sheene, and the livery is meant to resemble that found on Sheene’s Suzuki XR14 race bike. Vermeulen finished the race in 8th place — one behind his Rizla Suzuki teammate John Hopkins. You can find it in action here.
The sale includes the front fender, the fairings, the tank (which is incredibly lightweight), the tank cover, the seat, and the tail section.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this bodywork is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any Vermeulen stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
