Rizla Suzuki considering giving John Hopkins wildcard to race with Alvaro Bautista – MotoGP news
It is expected that Rizla Suzuki team rider Alvaro Bautista will be joined by former Grand Prix rider John Hopkins at the Czech Republic event of the 2011 MotoGP season.
Rizla Suzuki boss, Paul Denning commented about the rumours and said, “If there was an opportunity to have John back as a wildcard, then Suzuki would definitely consider it. But there hasn't been any serious discussion between Suzuki, John or any sponsor.”
The American GP rider has already made a wildcard entry in the Gran Premio bwin de Espana, held in early April 2011. Hopkins was able to put up a decent performance and finished at 10th place.
John Hopkins’ comeback to the premier class was possible after Rizla Suzuki’s prime rider Alvaro Bautista was injured during a practice session for the season opening round at Losail, Qatar. While testing the bike for the race day, Bautista entered a corner
at high speed and lost the grip which caused him to crash out.
The left side of his skull was fractured in the accident and the Spaniard was provided immediate first aid on the track. After medical checkups at the Losail Circuit, he was shifted to a bigger medical facility in Qatar. There he was operated upon to release
the internal bleeding in his left leg. However, due to some complications, he was transferred to his hometown the following day.
The Spaniard missed the season opener and was not announced medically fit to compete in the second round at Jerez, Spain. The Rizla Suzuki team called in John Hopkins to pilot the GSVR for the team.
Presently John Hopkins is riding for the Samsung Crescent Suzuki team in the British Superbike championship. After continuous injuries and retirement from MotoGP, he competed in WSBK and American Superbikes, but was not able to stay on the track.
Now with Samsung Crescent Suzuki team, he is placed second in the BSB championship standings, three points behind leader Shane Byrne.
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