This weekend will mark Vermeulen's first visit to Miller in the USA.

Australian Chris Vermeulen is looking forward to the challenge of learning an entirely new circuit this weekend, the former MotoGP race winner set to make his debut at Miller Motorsports Park in the United States as he continues to heal from injury woes suffered back at Phillip Island’s season opener in February.

After the most recent World Superbike round in South Africa, Vermeulen has had another few days in which to get his injured right leg close to normal operation for the first time since his big crash at round one, holding high hopes that he will be able to ride at his normal high level without any compromise in machine set-up or rider endurance to allow for his painful knee injury.

“I am looking forward to going to Miller, a new circuit for me, but with the position we are in with the bike we should go well there,” the Queenslander explained. “I feel better all the time and getting stronger so I am looking forward to going to America.

“Last year’s results were good here for the team so this gives me confidence that we can take another step forward and make up some ground during qualifying, and then for the races. We also have some valuable data from last year, which will help us with our initial set-up. I’m gradually getting back to full fitness so my targets are set high for this weekend, for both myself and the team.”

The 4.907km circuit is a very different one from they left behind at Kyalami in round six two weeks prior. Only their relatively high elevations above sea level are shared between Kyalami and Miller. The circuit close to Salt Lake City in Utah is modern, fast, wide and for the most part flat, although the circuit designers took steps to create some elevated corners, simply to make the challenge of the venue all the more intense.