Hopkins Back in MotoGP

 

American John Hopkins is set to be back in MotoGP for 2010 

Steve Atlas

MotorcycleUSA.com

 

untitledHopkins, seen here this year in World Superbike, will be back in MotoGP for 2010 aboard the new FB Corse team. American John Hopkins is set to be back in MotoGP for 2010. Announced by the newly-formed FB Corse team, the Ramona, California native will make his return to the premiere series after a year hiatus. The team reported the signing in a release today.

While details are few and far between, Hopper will be riding a motorcycle that is essentially the triple-cylinder prototype originally developed for BMW’s short-lived attempt to gain access into the Grand Prix world. Hopkins is set to be in Milan, Italy on January 21st for the team’s official announcement.

Hopper, who endured an injury-ridden 2009 season in World Superbike aboard the now defunct Stiggy Motorsport Honda team, recently overcame a massive concussion and several broken body parts. The American sensation originally burst onto the GP scene straight from winning AMA races at a young age. Hopkins always showed signs of raw talent and eventually found himself on the podium aboard the factory Suzuki a couple years back. But a downsizing team, loads of injuries and off-track drama saw him exit the GP pits at the end of the 2008 season, in which he rode for Kawasaki.

Hopper will now ride for the Italian FB Corse team on a brand new and unproven machine; his work will be cut out for him no question. He will also be joined on the team by Simone Gorztkyj, who will ride in the Moto2 class. The team is reportedly set to test both the MotoGP and Moto2 machines for the first time in January.

Retrieved December 22, 2009; from http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/749/5362/Motorcycle-Article/Hopkins-Back-in-MotoGP.aspx

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