MotoGP returnee John Hopkins will be at Jerez with Rizla Suzuki – MotoGP news
John Hopkins is the man to ride for the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP team at Jerez after the severe accident of their solo rider Alvaro Bautista at the Free Practice session before the season opener round at Qatar.
Hopkins will have once again a chance to appear in Blue Suzuki livery at the Jerez circuit.
Hopkins has previously spent five years at Rizla Suzuki and called it an end after his best finish at fourth in the 2007 World Championship. Then unfortunately the following three years were really disappointing as he was in Kawasaki and running towards
the doom of his career.
Continuing to the other categories World Superbike and AMA Superbike he had some injuries to disperse his struggling streak and the reason was his continued struggles. After going through the worst time, he now claims to be physically fit and focusing
on his return to the most worshiped paddock in motorcycle racing world.
During his talk to the media, he explained his views about the happenings which brought him back to the MotoGP seat.
He feels good to be back on the Suzuki seat but at same time he was sad for Alvaro Bautista for facing such an intense situation which took him off the seat for the early season.
He said it was not a good reason in any case to come back on the MotoGP bike. Hopkins had talked to the team and Paul Denning to get some racing entries in the season if the team manages to get sponsorship money for the races, possibly considering
Laguna Seca event.
John Hopkins was at San Diego when he was informed that Bautista has broken his left femur with Suzuki having to option to run at Qatar’s race. The team wanted Hopper get back to Qatar in time for the race practically opposite side of the world and
within 24 hours.
The earliest possible flight was ample enough to make Hopkins land at Qatar just an hour prior to the qualifying session for the Qatar’s race. But Hopper has already reached San Diego form Qatar after a promotional run with Suzuki for filming purpose
and he was suffering jet-lag with no sleep during the flight hours.
So, getting back on the flight after a long flight with no sleep could head him straight to disaster and lack of performance during race. It would inversely cost the team as Hopkins would not be much effective after such long travelling.
John Hopkins is confident about the bike after his ride at Qatar, he feels very comfortable on the GSV-R in comparison to other bikes he has rode after the return. Hopper also feels that MotoGP machines are more likely to be at his style and makes
him feel familiar. He has spent a lot of time testing the MotoGP prototype machines, so getting back on Suzuki MotoGP machine was like home to him.
Tags: