Motorcycle.com

MOKE1K · 02-10-2011, 07:25 AM

Suzuki line Hopkins up as a substitute
Thursday, 10 February 2011
The American, who rode in MotoGP for seven seasons until 2008, will attend the Qatar Test with the Rizla Suzuki team and will be a back-up rider for Álvaro Bautista in 2011.

Álvaro Bautista’s position as Rizla Suzuki’s sole rider in 2011 has required Team Manager Paul Denning to form a contingency plan for the season, namely that of preparing a ‘back-up’ rider should the Spaniard be unable to compete in any of the 18 World Championship rounds this year.
The man selected for the role is John Hopkins, the American who rode with the factory Suzuki team for five seasons and finished fourth in the World Championship in his last campaign with them in 2007.
Hopkins, who has been signed for the Crescent Suzuki team in British Superbikes this year – the team run by Denning – will be present at the Qatar Test from March 13th-14th, where he will ride the GSV-R in a bid to prepare himself for the eventuality of being called upon during the season.
“John won’t be doing the full Test in Qatar, he will be doing some riding on the bike to help us out with some PR and filming work. That will give him the opportunity to do some laps and get a feel for the bike, and he will be there at the Test in case we need him,” Denning explained to motogp.com. “We’re not sure whether we’re going to need him during the Test or not.”
Further explaining the plan to have Hopkins on standby throughout the season, Denning continued: “With only one rider we’ve got to think carefully about a back-up plan, in case something goes wrong. We’re obviously very much hoping that we don’t have to call on it at any point, because we’re putting everything behind Álvaro and that’s the priority. But we have an obligation to Suzuki, to Rizla and to all the team’s partners to be at all the races so we do need to have a plan.”
He added: “John is available, he’s got experience and he’s fit and focused, and so he would seem to be the right man to do that job.”
And what of the prospect of seeing Hopkins as a second Suzuki rider on the grid this season in a wild card capacity?
“There are no plans like that at the moment. Should something develop it could be considered, but at the moment it’s not in the plan,” concluded Denning.

acecycleins · 02-10-2011, 10:48 AM

Hopper is overrated at this point. He bailed on M4 and for that I am no longer a fan.

Morbo the Destroyer · 02-10-2011, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acecycleins

Hopper is overrated at this point. He bailed on M4 and for that I am no longer a fan.

Frankly I think he peaked with "Easy Rider" and has been coasting ever since.

MOKE1K · 02-13-2011, 04:24 PM

Watch out your showing your age, besides Dennis couldn't hold Johns jock when it comes to riding a bike. Although I tend to agree with Ace he's a bit of an oddity makes you wonder how he lasted so long riding as a factory rider. Oh wait that was, Kawasaki.

MOKE1K · 02-15-2011, 03:35 AM

Word is he's going to BSB. The tracks there are more dangerous then America. Hope he does well!!

acecycleins · 02-15-2011, 04:47 AM

Denning bought John a ride so he can back up the kid riding the GP bike. Clever really. Still believe he shot the wad too soon in his race career. I really think he's never going to be a champion at anything anymore. Just a really good rider that can't complete an entire season without drama.

MOKE1K · 02-16-2011, 03:05 PM

Who's he riding for in BSB?

sarnali2 · 02-16-2011, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morbo the Destroyer

Frankly I think he peaked with "Easy Rider" and has been coasting ever since.

Sum'B*tch done riis from the dayd............

acecycleins · 02-16-2011, 05:32 PM

Crescent- It's Denning's team.

02-10-2011, 07:25 AM	#1
MOKE1K Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kalapana, Big Island Posts: 3,956	Hopper as back up? Suzuki line Hopkins up as a substitute Thursday, 10 February 2011 The American, who rode in MotoGP for seven seasons until 2008, will attend the Qatar Test with the Rizla Suzuki team and will be a back-up rider for Álvaro Bautista in 2011. Álvaro Bautista’s position as Rizla Suzuki’s sole rider in 2011 has required Team Manager Paul Denning to form a contingency plan for the season, namely that of preparing a ‘back-up’ rider should the Spaniard be unable to compete in any of the 18 World Championship rounds this year. The man selected for the role is John Hopkins, the American who rode with the factory Suzuki team for five seasons and finished fourth in the World Championship in his last campaign with them in 2007. Hopkins, who has been signed for the Crescent Suzuki team in British Superbikes this year – the team run by Denning – will be present at the Qatar Test from March 13th-14th, where he will ride the GSV-R in a bid to prepare himself for the eventuality of being called upon during the season. “John won’t be doing the full Test in Qatar, he will be doing some riding on the bike to help us out with some PR and filming work. That will give him the opportunity to do some laps and get a feel for the bike, and he will be there at the Test in case we need him,” Denning explained to motogp.com. “We’re not sure whether we’re going to need him during the Test or not.” Further explaining the plan to have Hopkins on standby throughout the season, Denning continued: “With only one rider we’ve got to think carefully about a back-up plan, in case something goes wrong. We’re obviously very much hoping that we don’t have to call on it at any point, because we’re putting everything behind Álvaro and that’s the priority. But we have an obligation to Suzuki, to Rizla and to all the team’s partners to be at all the races so we do need to have a plan.” He added: “John is available, he’s got experience and he’s fit and focused, and so he would seem to be the right man to do that job.” And what of the prospect of seeing Hopkins as a second Suzuki rider on the grid this season in a wild card capacity? “There are no plans like that at the moment. Should something develop it could be considered, but at the moment it’s not in the plan,” concluded Denning. __________________ "YOU CAN'T BOLT ON SKILL" "The only thing limiting your bike, is you" We survived Bush you'll survive Obama! "the most fundamental fact about the ideas of the political left is that they do not work. therefore we should not be surprised to find the left concentrated in institutions where ideas do not have to work in order to survive." --thomas sowell

02-10-2011, 10:48 AM	#2
acecycleins Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Georgia Posts: 4,125	Hopper is overrated at this point. He bailed on M4 and for that I am no longer a fan. __________________ "Slack" - a state of being in which everything flows smoothly.....a frame of mind so at ease that the universe naturally cooperates.

02-13-2011, 04:24 PM	#4
MOKE1K Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kalapana, Big Island Posts: 3,956	Watch out your showing your age, besides Dennis couldn't hold Johns jock when it comes to riding a bike. Although I tend to agree with Ace he's a bit of an oddity makes you wonder how he lasted so long riding as a factory rider. Oh wait that was, Kawasaki. __________________ "YOU CAN'T BOLT ON SKILL" "The only thing limiting your bike, is you" We survived Bush you'll survive Obama! "the most fundamental fact about the ideas of the political left is that they do not work. therefore we should not be surprised to find the left concentrated in institutions where ideas do not have to work in order to survive." --thomas sowell

02-15-2011, 03:35 AM	#5
MOKE1K Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kalapana, Big Island Posts: 3,956	Word is he's going to BSB. The tracks there are more dangerous then America. Hope he does well!! __________________ "YOU CAN'T BOLT ON SKILL" "The only thing limiting your bike, is you" We survived Bush you'll survive Obama! "the most fundamental fact about the ideas of the political left is that they do not work. therefore we should not be surprised to find the left concentrated in institutions where ideas do not have to work in order to survive." --thomas sowell

02-15-2011, 04:47 AM	#6
acecycleins Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Georgia Posts: 4,125	Denning bought John a ride so he can back up the kid riding the GP bike. Clever really. Still believe he shot the wad too soon in his race career. I really think he's never going to be a champion at anything anymore. Just a really good rider that can't complete an entire season without drama. __________________ "Slack" - a state of being in which everything flows smoothly.....a frame of mind so at ease that the universe naturally cooperates.

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02-16-2011, 03:05 PM	#7
MOKE1K Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kalapana, Big Island Posts: 3,956	Who's he riding for in BSB? __________________ "YOU CAN'T BOLT ON SKILL" "The only thing limiting your bike, is you" We survived Bush you'll survive Obama! "the most fundamental fact about the ideas of the political left is that they do not work. therefore we should not be surprised to find the left concentrated in institutions where ideas do not have to work in order to survive." --thomas sowell

02-16-2011, 05:32 PM	#9
acecycleins Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Georgia Posts: 4,125	Crescent- It's Denning's team. __________________ "Slack" - a state of being in which everything flows smoothly.....a frame of mind so at ease that the universe naturally cooperates.