Endurance boost

John Hopkins reckons lap times are plummeting on the new 800cc machines because the drop in horsepower has seen tyre endurance greatly increased.

Riders can lap faster and for longer without the brutal power of the 990cc four-strokes wearing tyres quicker,

The 23-year-old said: “The durability of the tyres lasts a lot longer on the 800. Obviously there is not as much horsepower just killing out the tyre and I have been to able ride it really smoothly and run it through the corners really hard without damaging the tyres.

“Suzuki has always been known in the past to lose a lot of durability from a quarter to halfway into the race and right now the durability is just lasting. The power delivery of the Suzuki is working really well and the engine braking is not wearing out the tyres.”