Vermeulen robbed by fuel supply fault.

MotoGP rookie Chris Vermeulen looked set for his first podium in Sunday's US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, only to be robbed by a mechanical problem just three laps from the finish.

Vermeulen started superbly from pole position, leading the field for the first half of the race. Unfortunately a fuel supply problem - possibly caused by the extreme heat - made his Rizla Suzuki GSV-R lose power and he was overtaken by eventual winner and championship leader Nicky Hayden.

Although Vermeulen fought to preserve his podium position, and looked likely to achieve that feat as fourth placed Valentino Rossi struck terminal engine problems, his worsening bike was also unable to keep pace with those around him and he lost third position with just three laps to go, before eventually limping home in fifth - still his best finish of the season.

"Everything went pretty well at the start, the bike was running well and we made - what I think - was the best tyre choice. Thanks to my whole team and Bridgestone for helping me today. But about 12 laps from the end the bike started cutting out, it was not running smoothly and it was hesitating on corner entry - this was making it so hard to ride," explained Chris. "It got worse and worse and I only just brought it home. In fact three turns after the end of the race it stopped completely! I'm really disappointed that I didn't get a podium but I think we have proved how strong the Rizla Suzuki, Bridgestone tyres and the whole team were here this weekend, and hopefully we can continue this performance in the next few races."

"At this stage it difficult to find the balance between being pleased with a stunning weekend's performance or bitterly disappointed that Chris and Rizla Suzuki were robbed of a certain podium," admitted a dejected team manager Paul Denning. "The team and the riders got everything out of the bike over the course of the weekend and whilst John rode extremely hard and very well all weekend, Chris found something here at Laguna that took him to a podium or even race winning level.

"We haven't had many opportunities to stick it on the podium over the last few years, but today was a clear one so the disappointment is huge. But at the same time we still managed to finish in fifth and sixth places and under normal circumstances we would have been delighted with that result," he added.

As Denning indicated, home star John Hopkins finished just behind his team-mate in sixth place, after dropping as low as ninth in the first half of the race.

"I gotta say I feel sorry for Chris. That really sucks for him because he rode an excellent race," said Hopper sportingly. "I was trying everything I could and when I saw he was in first, if anything it motivated me even more.

"I got a bit boxed up at the start and had a hard time getting past Colin, and then made a bit of a mistake when Valentino passed me. Once the lead group had got away I just had to concentrate on my own race and try and put some good laps together.

"It's a shame one of the Rizla Suzukis wasn't on the podium, but we have got six more races and I am sure before the end of the season either one of us will be on there. Now we are going into the summer break and we will get our head together for Brno - that's one race I can't wait for!"