John Hopkins plotting racing return in 2014

John Hopkins is plotting a return to racing in 2014 in a bid to end an injury-ravaged spell that threatened to end his career.

The American is currently taking a year out of racing after undergoing major left hip surgery earlier this year and was undecided on whether he still had the appetite to race.

But the 30-year-old, who was recently linked with a shock Pramac Ducati ride as replacement for injured Andrea Iannone in Laguna Seca, is now planning to launch a comeback next year.

The 2011 BSB runner-up, who has had to cope with a seemingly endless succession of brutal injuries, told MCN: “I miss racing a lot. Three months ago I would have said I don’t know what I want to do but now I want to get back on a bike and race. I really miss it and I’m hungry to ride.”

Hopkins said in a perfect world he’d land a job as Suzuki’s test rider ahead of the Japanese factory’s planned MotoGP return in 2015.

He raced for Suzuki between 2003 and 2007 before an ill-fated switch to Kawasaki and he added: “Ideally I’d love to get the test rider deal with Suzuki because that means I wouldn’t be in a high pressure situation and could build up to things.  I’d love to build with that project and then do some wild cards.  If there is nothing like that in MotoGP then I’ll try for WSB and if not then try clinch the title in BSB.”