Vermeulen blames Capirossi.

"That's the second time in two weekends someone has taken me out!" declared Rizla Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen after his qualifying clash with Ducati's Loris Capirossi.

But while Vermeulen was undoubtedly an innocent victim on the first lap of the recent Turkish Grand Prix, when he and two others were caught up in an accident triggered by Olivier Jacque, the young Australian wasn't entirely blameless for the final-minute misunderstanding that left Capirossi 14th and Vermeulen 15th on the grid for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.

The impact occurred when Vermeulen dived inside Capirossi after what Chris believes was a mistake by the Italian as he began accelerating through a long right hander. However, Capirossi claims he had been using a wider line to get a better exit. Either way, their lines crossed - wiping out Capirossi's front wheel and bringing both riders down.

"I was catching Loris, he made a mistake and I went up the inside of him and he then hit my back wheel and we both went down - that's the second time in two weekends someone has taken me out!" stated Chris. "I'm obviously not very happy about that as I think I could have been on at least the front two rows. That's racing though and we need to try and get a good start and see how the race goes."

"I was using a wider line through that corner in order to get a better exit speed. Vermeulen saw some space and tried to pass me but there wasn't enough room," explained Capirossi. "I'm disappointed that I didn't have the chance to improve my time but I'm not complaining about the accident because these things can happen. I'm okay, though my right arm is bruised and quite painful."

"It wasn't a race, but it seems that what happened with Chris and Loris is what you call a 'racing incident'," said an even-handed Paul Denning, Vermeulen's team manager.