Suzuki re-signs Vermeulen for 2008 Suzuki and Chris Vermeulen are pleased to announce that they have agreed terms to continue with their partnership into the 2008 MotoGP season and beyond. Vermeulen joined Suzuki at the end of 2005 and has been heavily involved in the development of the Suzuki GSV-R during the past two seasons. The 25-year-old scored a podium for the team in his rookie season and has followed that up this year with Suzuki’s first-ever four-stroke MotoGP victory. The ever-improving Australian has decided that he wants to stay with Suzuki despite attempts from other manufactures to tempt him away. Team Manager Paul Denning has been in negotiations with Vermeulen for some time and the number 71 racer put pen to paper shortly after today’s American Grand Prix, which saw Vermeulen take a stunning second position. Chris Vermeulen: “I am very excited to be staying with Suzuki. I really enjoy working with the whole team, especially my Chief Mechanic Tom O’Kane. The involvement of the Factory staff has also been a big factor in my decision, in particular Sahara-san and our Racing Group Leader Oonishi-san. The way the development has gone since I first rode the GSV-R in 2005 is incredible! I am sure if we can continue in that direction we will be pushing up to the front every weekend. That has got to be the goal, I want to be World Champion and if I can do it with Suzuki I will be so happy!” Fumihiro Oonishi Suzuki Racing Department Group Leader: “Suzuki is very please to have signed Chris to race in MotoGP for the future. We had strong competition from other teams but Chris had a desire to stay with Suzuki and we have done all we can to make sure he did so. “Chris is a very professional rider and his help in improving the GSV-R has been invaluable to the team and we know he will continue to do that in the future.” Paul Denning Team Manager: “Suzuki introduced Chris to MotoGP as a full-time Factory Rider and is pleased to retain his partnership. He is a no-nonsense, straight forward character and fits in with Suzuki’s and the team’s attitude at all levels. I don’t think we have yet seen Chris’ true potential, he’s a winner and next year we are expecting great success together.” More, from a press release issued by Marlboro Ducati: DUCATI TEAM ANNOUNCES 2008 AND 2009 MOTOGP LINE-UP The Ducati Team announces that Casey Stoner and Marco Melandri will be its riders for the next two seasons of the MotoGP World Championship. World Championship leader Casey Stoner has renewed his agreement with the Borgo Panigale-based factory for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, with an option for the 2010 championship. 24-year old Italian Melandri will join the Australian with a two-year contract. Next week Loris Capirossi and his manager will meet with Ducati representatives to evaluate the possibility of preparing a third official Desmosedici MotoGP bike for the Italian rider to use in the 2008 World Championship.