Despite completing laps in Friday practice at Portimao’s second round of the Superbike World Championship in Portugal last weekend, Australian Chris Vermeulen had to sit the event out due to a knee injury suffered at Phillip Island’s season opener.

The Queenslander will now see a specialist in Belgium regarding the knee injury, which happened during race two at his home round last month when he was ejected from his factory Kawasaki ZX-10R at high speed mid-race.

“I tried to go out on the bike the movement in my right knee is restricted and I couldn’t get my leg on to the footpeg,” Vermeulen explained.

Vermeulen hopes to return to action next weekend in Valencia, Spain, however that is also uncertain before he seeks further medical advice early this week.

“I’ve called it quits for this weekend – we’ll concentrate on improving my knee for the next race in Valencia in two weeks time,” he continued. “Fingers crossed I’m going to be fit for the Valencia race in two weeks.”

The Valencia round will be staged on 9-11 April, marking the third round of the 2010 season as Vermeulen returns from MotoGP to WSBK.