Hopkins happy with new Suzuki engine

American John Hopkins declared himself happy with the performance of a new factory Suzuki GSV-R engine at the end of the first day in Le Mans.

Hopkins finished fifth quickest today running an upgraded V4 motor for the first time at a race weekend.

Designed for improved mid-range performance and faster corner exit acceleration, Hopkins told MCN: “To be honest on the data it looks like it’s picking up quicker on the exit. Feeling wise its not a huge difference, not a night and day difference but coming out of the corners, which has always been our biggest weakness, it has been improved without a doubt. We still got to sort out a bit of engine mapping and there’s a lot of work to do. “

He added: “Mid-range from 8000 to 14,000rpm is where it is much better. “Unfortunately I didn’t get with anybody to see how much it had improved against the other bikes. I made a run on some people but they were quick to move to the side and get out of my way. That was a bit of a bummer because I really want to get with somebody before the race to see if we can improve it even more.
Hopkins denied he had run the new engine in Shanghai that carried him to third place behind MotoGP series leader Casey Stoner and seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi.

It had been rumoured Hopkins used the revised engine spec in the Far East but he said: ” I didn’t have it. I wished I’d had it there because it might have helped a lot more and I might have won the race!”

Hopkins, looking to build on the massive confidence boost his first career podium in China earlier this month gave him, said the task of a repeat performance would prove much harder in Le Mans.

“Unfortunately we don’t have as easier job as we had in China. It looks like we are going to have to work for it a little bit here. We don’t have a great set-up at the moment. This morning the gearing was quite a bit off and the tyres we ran were quite a bit too soft even in the cold temperatures. We started to quickly make improvements and it’s so, so close around with the times that the only thing you’re looking for is tenths. This afternoon we changed a few things around on the bike, played around with the gearing a little bit and got it a little bit better but we still need to improve it tomorrow. I was able to knock a few tenths off to get into the 35s and we started putting some distance on some tyres, “said Hopkins, who said he would be helped in the future without the mental barrier of claiming an elusive podium to hinder him.

“I’m really confident. We have got the podium out of the way so when it comes to crunch time in the last couple of laps and its getting pretty heated there is no chance I’ll be backing down. I just want a strong finish this weekend and step up the ladder now, “said the Californian.