Brno MotoGP: John Hopkins won't test Suzuki 2008 parts

Suzuki will prevent John Hopkins from testing any new 2008 prototype parts in a two-day test session in Brno next week after his big money switch to Kawasaki for next season. 

John Hopkins will still take part in the two-day session immediately after Sunday’s Czech Republic GP in Brno, but testing of 2008 development parts will be left to Australian Chris Vermeulen.

Hopkins will test evolution 2007 parts to improve performance for the last six races of the campaign, and he will also test a batch of new Bridgestone tyres for the forthcoming Misano MotoGP clash on September 3, 2007.

John Hopkins signed a contract with Kawasaki’s factory team shortly before last month’s German MotoGP in the Sachsenring in a deal exclusively revealed by MCN. He will ride a ZX-RR for 2008 and 2009.

Aussie Anthony West is expected to partner the American, with Loris Capirossi today confirming in Brno that he won’t be joining Kawasaki having clinched a new deal with Suzuki.