De Puniet accepts blame for collision

The Kawasaki rider was attempting to pass Vermeulen for seventh when they made contact - sending the Suzuki across the gravel, and causing de Puniet to crash out of the race.

The Frenchman had qualified third, but tumbled down the order on the first lap.

He was attempting to regain ground when he came up behind Vermeulen, who had qualified on pole in the wet but was unable to match the lead pace in the dry race.

"I'm disappointed because I got a bad start, losing eight places between the line and the first corner, and I don't know why. I really need to work on it," said de Puniet.

"After that, I passed some riders and got to eighth position, behind Vermeulen. I tried to pass him but the front of my bike hit him and we came off.

"I'm really sorry for Chris, and disappointed for the team, because it had otherwise been a really good weekend."

Vermeulen, who rejoined to finish 16th. was in no doubt that de Puniet was to blame for the collision.

"Unfortunately I didn't quite have the speed of the front guys, but I was pushing hard. Then all of a sudden I was hit from the rear and I ended up in the gravel," he said.

"I didn't know the other rider was there and I certainly don't think there was room for him."

Suzuki team boss Paul Denning believed Vermeulen had been on course for a strong points finish had he not tangled with de Puniet.

"Chris had improved his dry pace significantly during the early part of the race and looked set for a top seven or eighth place finish, but we didn't count on an aerial assault from one of our competitors midway through the race," Denning said.

"The good news is that Chris was completely unhurt and will be able to go for it again at Sachsenring in two weeks time."