World Superbike star Chris Vermeulen has arrived back in Australia and will be based at his home on the Sunshine Coast over the next two months focused on intensive physiotherapy on his injured right knee.

Home for Christmas, Vermeulen says he is on target to resume riding early next year and is looking forward to spending the holiday season with his family.

The 28-year-old’s recovery from the operation is meeting all targets, and he’s ready to start testing in January on the all-new Kawasaki ZX-10R at Sepang in Malaysia.

“I am still recovering from the surgery and it will be a lot of work to be fit for the start of the season but I am confident for a successful 2011,” Vermeulen said.

Professionally, 2010 is a year Vermeulen would prefer to forget. He crashed at the opening round at Australia’s Phillip Island seriously injuring his knee, and was immediately sidelined till round four at Assen.

Returning to the Kawasaki squad in April, he struggled to ride at world championship pace, and a crash at Brno in July forced him to pull out for the remainder of the season.

The former World Supersport Champion and WSBK runner-up had major reconstructive knee surgery in late July in Barcelona, and has spent the last four months in his Andorran base concentrating on his recovery.

So far Vermeulen’s rehabilitation has consisted of physiotherapy four days per week, and when he’s not under the counsel of professionals he completes 20 minutes of exercise on the leg every hour.

He will compete in the opening round of the 2011 World Superbike Championship at Australia’s Phillip Island from 25-27 February on board the all new Kawasaki, set to be joined in the Kawasaki factory team by teammates Tom Sykes and new Spanish recruit Joan Lascorz.