Suzuki Makes Hopkins Signing Official

Suzuki Makes Hopkins Signing Official

© 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

SUZUKI SIGN HOPKINS

Edenbridge, England – Wednesday, November 12.

Teenage American road racer John Hopkins will join the factory Suzuki GP team in 2003, after agreeing terms in Valencia at the final round of 2002. Hopkins completed his debut GP season at Valencia and is due to test the latest version of Suzuki’s GSV-R machine in Malaysia this week.

Hopkins (19) will be team-mate to 2000 World Champion and fellow-Californian Kenny Roberts Jr. to make an all-American rider line-up for the factory Suzuki team. Hopkins takes the place of Sete Gibernau, racing the 990cc V4 Suzuki GSV-R

“I am really pleased to have a full factory contract in only my second year of GP racing,” said Hopkins, who rapidly shot to prominence in the USA, racing a Suzuki GSX-R750 to AMA Supersport success in 2000, then switched to the Suzuki GSX-R1000 to add the Formula Xtreme title to his fast-growing portfolio at the age of 18 in 2001.

“It’s been my dream to be a full factory rider – and it all seems to have happened so fast,” said Hopkins, who first raced motocross at the age of five, but has only been full-time road-racing for four years.

“I want to thank Suzuki for their faith in me. I’ve had a lot of success with Suzuki in the past, and I know this team gives me the potential to get to the top,” continued Hopkins.

Team manager Garry Taylor echoed his optimism. “We see in John a rider with a very bright future. His first rookie year was very impressive, and there is clearly more to come.

“Suzuki has a history of looking for young riders like John – we picked up both Barry Sheene and Kevin Schwantz at early stages of their careers, and both went on to win many races and three World Championships with the factory Suzuki team.

“John gives off much the same sort of energy as the young Kevin – obviously very talented, but also very determined to reach the top,” concluded Taylor.

Hopkins was born in Ramona in southern California, but counts himself as more than just part British. His parents were both from Acton in West London, emigrating shortly before John was born on May 22, 1983.

His father was a keen motorcyclist and former road racer, including at the Isle of Man TT. When John was barely walking, he was getting lifts on the tank of his father’s machines. He grew up riding dirt bikes in the desert every weekend, and first raced at the age of five, in a motocross event.

Hopkins lost his father at the age of 12. By then, Hopkins Senior had already introduced his son to road racing, and John became fascinated with the sport in his early teens. However, frustrated by a string of mechanical problems, he had returned to motocross when US talent scout John Ulrich invited him to test a Suzuki GSX-R600 racer, and signed him up for 1999. Ulrich also originally discovered Kevin Schwantz for Suzuki.

From that point Hopkins was on an express train, winning a championship in each of his three full seasons as he moved to bigger and bigger machines. In 1999, he won the Aprilia RS250 Cup, in 2000 the national AMA 750 Supersport Championship, and in 2001 the AMA Formula Xtreme title, on the big Suzuki GSX-R1000.

In 2002, Hopkins moved straight to the premier class of World Championship GP racing, racing a two-stroke in a learning season up against the new 990cc MotoGP prototype four-strokes. He made an impression from the start, not only consistently finishing in the points – but also showing great determination. In his first race, in treacherous wet conditions, he finished in the points in spite of falling off twice, and stopping to fit new bodywork. He repeated the feat of remounting to score points in Rio, and almost once more at Phillip Island in Australia, where he finished 16th.

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