Chris Vermeulen started his first World Superbike race in nine months at Assen, tho🍎ugh his persistent knee injury would only allow him to comp🍸lete eight laps over the course of the day.

The Aus🐻traꦬlian showed encouraging form during the timed sessions, setting times just adrift of the closely-matched mid-field and qualifying 18th.

Proceeding to take to the grid for the first time since last year's Brno round, Vermeulen ran well early on to sneak into the points. However, his fitness would begin to te🔴ll soon afterwards, Vermeulen slipp෴ing back down the order before eventually calling time on his day on lap nine.

Despite this, Vermeulen was pleased with his progress and is certain he will be able to sustain 🃏a full race weekend ne꧑xt time out at Monza.

"I stopped just because of a lack of strength in my leg but we went out to try and complete the full races," the Kawasaki rider insisted. "We still got some useful data in any case. My leg just cramped up and I had to stop after a few laps. My pace was not so bad and I was holding down𝔉 a points scoring position but I just could not get to the end.

"This is the first time I have been able to feel the bikeඣ real🐲ly working, and I made some set-up changes because I was pushing at a decent level sometimes this weekend.

"I am happy with what the team has done but we have a lot of work stil🧸l to do, just because I am a long way behind my team-mates in learning the bike at present. I think I should be ready for a full weekend of racing at Mon♕za."