Ninja Days

Chris Vermeulen

Meeting Chris Vermeulen today at Parramatta, I got a sense of how these top riders are being used to crank over the publicity machine for their sponsors. Meeting the young man was sensational! He struck me as an unassuming, well spoken and polite young man, who was totally in the moment with everyone he met. He humbly apologised to me for being 15 minutes late because of a plane delay.



This was a first time for me. I'd never gone out of my way to meet a race identity before in my life. Lining up, we were about 5th in line, I marvelled at the variety of things people brought to get signed. There was even a young man holding a tripple panel set of photographs, featuring the Australian rider. And of cause there was the merchandising tent right next to the tour truck in which Chris appeared to be right at home. There was a fair bit of paraphenalia on the walls surrounding the Le Mans winner, but I had very little time to check that out.

When it was my turn Chris shook my hand firmly and looked me straight in the eye when I wished him all the very best of luck on the Island and of cause he shared my hope to get that podium finish. An all Australian finish! He signed my helmet beautifully. Watching his steady hand drawing circles and straights with such precision, finishing it with that key number 71, was just like watching an artist at work. An artist of the circuits of the world.

There was not a moment of awkwardness in our interaction, except when I asked him (in my best teacher voice) wether the pen he used was waterproof. 'Yes, it's permanent...'

My buddy Phil, who is just about the most knowledgeable person I know in the bike world, had picked me up from MaxPower( my trusted mechanic) where I had to leave my bike behind to get it serviced before going to the Island mid next week. The drive was very pleasant without any sign of the dreaded Sydney traffic. Phil is a teacher, but in his spare time he is also a race commentator. He remembers calling Chris Vermeulen's first race and whilst Chris did not remember him, he clearly remembered that race and was glad to have met him today.

It'd be nice to get Stoner's signature on the other side of the helmet.

Can't wait to see them push the boundaries...safely, I hope!

posted by The '95 Ninja ZX6R @ 3.10.07