Hopkins Linked to New MotoGP Team

Motorcycle.com Staff
by Motorcycle.com Staff

Hopkins linked to new MotoGP team

Hopper to develop prototype triple
By Motorcycle.Com Staff, Dec. 22, 2009
New information released after this article was first published indicate Hopkins had not reached a formal agreement with FB Corse and was still accepting other offers.

John Hopkins will reportedly return to MotoGP with the new FB Corse team.

Racing news site GPOne.com reports the Italian team signed the Ramona, Calif., native to develop a new three-cylinder prototype race bike. The triple was developed by Oral Engineering and originally part of BMWs aborted MotoGP program. That news was later denied by Hopkins manager who said negotiations were ongoing.

FB Corse has not officially entered into the 2010 MotoGP Championship, but the team may enter select races as a wildcard entry. Hopkins is expected to begin testing the bike in January before appearing at FB Corses official introduction, Jan. 21, 2010.

John Hopkins was under contract to Kawasaki when the manufacturer pulled its MotoGP program.
In the mean time, Hopkins is continuing his recovery from injuries suffered while racing the 2009 World Superbike Championship with Stiggy Honda. Hopkins suffered some head injuries following a crash at the Nurburgring round, but also dislocated his hip and broke a leg in another crash earlier in the season.

With FB Corse, Hopkins will have a chance to turn around his career which has been hampered by a series of misfortunes. On top of his injuries, Hopkins previous two teams, Stiggy Honda and Kawasaki s MotoGP team, folded due to the weak global economy.

FB Corse also announced the signing of Simone Gorztkj who will compete in five rounds of the new Moto2 series.

Related Reading
Hopkins done for the season
Hopkins undergoes hip surgery
Hopkins joins Stiggy Honda WSBK team
Kawasaki announces MotoGP pull-out

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Motorcycle.com Staff
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