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AMA SBK: Healthy Hopper Finally Up Front
Is a healthy, confident John Hopkins finally poised to truly challenge at the front of the AMA Superbike pack?
Chris Martin  |  Posted September 04, 2010   Millville, NJ
Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki's John Hopkins (Photo: Brian J Nelson)

PROGRAMMING NOTE: The AMA Pro Road Racing action from NJMP will air on SPEED on Saturday, September 4 starting at 10:00pm EST and Sunday, September 5 starting at 10:00pm EST.

No one questions the talent of John Hopkins. A two-time AMA national champion as a teenager, 'Hopper' has opened races from pole, posted fastest laps, and landed on the podium in MotoGP, the pinnacle of two-wheeled motorsport.

However, Hopkins has enjoyed very little luck the past couple of seasons with uncompetitive machinery and health issues preventing him from performing up to the standard of his sublime natural skills.

Seeking a fresh start in 2010, Hopkins returned to the States and instantly provided the series with a boost of credibility from an international perspective, leading more than one preseason prognosticator to tip the prodigal son as the hot pick to walk away with the 2010 AMA Pro Superbike title.

It hasn't exactly worked out that way. While showing flashes of speed on occasion, the Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki ace's degenerative wrist issues only worsened and he was actually told by a specialist that there was likely no correcting the issues. Undeterred, Hopkins sought a second opinion and underwent surgery to repair the problem.

While costing him a good chunk of the season, he's now back on track and steadily picking up strength, speed, and confidence.

Still seeking a first career AMA Superbike podium finish, Hopkins opened Friday on top of the charts and followed that up by qualifying third best provisionally.


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