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World Superbike
WSBK: Ready To ‘Hop’ Back In, But To Where?
With his career successfully rehabilitated, John Hopkins is one of the key figures on the developing rider market. But where should he seek to go, MotoGP or World Superbike?
Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki's John Hopkins (Photo: Suzuki Racing)
At the height of John Hopkins' MotoGP career, each successive team press release reminder, and UK-based media mention, of the racer's "Anglo-American" heritage provided considerable amusement.
Born and raised in SoCal by then-recently transplanted British parents, Hopkins is as Californian as they come. But at the time, there were no front-running British riders in the premier class (and in 2007, Hopkins' defining year, none at all), and it seemed as if the Verwood, England-based Rizla Suzuki outfit, and the British GP racing fandom as a whole, basically pleaded, "Hey Yanks -- you've already got Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards… Can we please just borrow 'Hopper'?"
The Brits got an awful lot of mileage out of Hopkins' ancestry when they needed it the most, but now the shoe is officially the other foot. American fans are asking for him back after the British Superbike ace secured the pole position for tomorrow's Superbike World Championship doubleheader at Silverstone as a wild card entry.
That well-worn Anglo-American tag is perhaps more accurate than ever before, as Hopkins is at once representing American World Superbike fans who have no countryman to root for in the otherwise thrilling series, and the British fans, who are justifiably proud of the strength displayed by their domestic national championship.
But more than anyone else, John Hopkins is representing himself this weekend; the world is paying close attention as he auditions for a starring role on the global stage once again in 2012.
And he'll have another opportunity in just two weeks time as he pilots the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP racer alongside team regular Alvaro Bautista at Brno.
At this point there seems little question that Hopkins will get another shot at world championship competition next season. He's just the latest successful reclamation project for the British Superbike Championship, which had previously rehabilitated the careers of Neil Hodgson, Leon Haslam, Shane Byrne, Gregorio Lavilla, Ryuichi Kiyonari, and Sylvain Guintoli, taking them in after failed attempts at the big time and helping to springboard them back for a second chance.
But exactly where he'll end up remains a mystery. Hopkins' words make it obvious that he's gunning for a return to MotoGP, but there's growing sentiment that he would be better off seeking a more welcoming spot in the Superbike World Championship.
Born and raised in SoCal by then-recently transplanted British parents, Hopkins is as Californian as they come. But at the time, there were no front-running British riders in the premier class (and in 2007, Hopkins' defining year, none at all), and it seemed as if the Verwood, England-based Rizla Suzuki outfit, and the British GP racing fandom as a whole, basically pleaded, "Hey Yanks -- you've already got Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards… Can we please just borrow 'Hopper'?"
The Brits got an awful lot of mileage out of Hopkins' ancestry when they needed it the most, but now the shoe is officially the other foot. American fans are asking for him back after the British Superbike ace secured the pole position for tomorrow's Superbike World Championship doubleheader at Silverstone as a wild card entry.
That well-worn Anglo-American tag is perhaps more accurate than ever before, as Hopkins is at once representing American World Superbike fans who have no countryman to root for in the otherwise thrilling series, and the British fans, who are justifiably proud of the strength displayed by their domestic national championship.
But more than anyone else, John Hopkins is representing himself this weekend; the world is paying close attention as he auditions for a starring role on the global stage once again in 2012.
And he'll have another opportunity in just two weeks time as he pilots the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP racer alongside team regular Alvaro Bautista at Brno.
At this point there seems little question that Hopkins will get another shot at world championship competition next season. He's just the latest successful reclamation project for the British Superbike Championship, which had previously rehabilitated the careers of Neil Hodgson, Leon Haslam, Shane Byrne, Gregorio Lavilla, Ryuichi Kiyonari, and Sylvain Guintoli, taking them in after failed attempts at the big time and helping to springboard them back for a second chance.
But exactly where he'll end up remains a mystery. Hopkins' words make it obvious that he's gunning for a return to MotoGP, but there's growing sentiment that he would be better off seeking a more welcoming spot in the Superbike World Championship.
WSBK: Monza Race 0513
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