Hopkins stays at Suzuki

The Suzuki MotoGP squad has officially announced current rider John Hopkins will stay with the team for the next two seasons.

Hopkins, 22, has ridden for the team since 2003, and the team believe he has the potential to be a future world champion. The Anglo-American will now continue with the GSV-R machine until 2007.

“It’s great top get the deal done and be able to concentrate on the rest of the year. I’ve been with the GSV-R from day one, and I’d like to say that I have put the majority of my input into developing the bike that I am riding today. I have every reason to believe that Suzuki is going to get it right and we are going to run at the front. The pride in riding a bike I’ve helped to develop and being able to ride at the front gives you so much more satisfaction than going to a bike developed by someone else,” said Hopkins.

Team manager Paul Denning was full of praise for Hopkins, and pointing to the bond between the rider and team as a major reason they will stay together for the next two seasons. The signing of Hopkins could close one possible door for Britain’s Shane Byrne, who is looking for a ride following the collapse of the Team Roberts/KTM partnership. Find out what options Shakey has in MCN, August 31, 2005.

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