Hopper to BSB...maybe

Hopkins may be headed to BSB. He had a falling out with John Ulrich (who is talking .... already). Its not hit the news sites yet, but I'm sure it will blow up soon.



.... Ulrich by the way.

I find it interesting that Roger lee got the jordan job over him. While I personally prefer that choice, conventional wisdom would be that hopper has had more success and more experience on a bigger bike. Perhaps he was never in the running because his falling out was just recently and he was left without a ride.

I just think that saddling the already fragile hopper on new sub par tracks is a recipe for more injury.

On a brighter note BassPete will once again be able to watch Hopper 16 times a year. I'm sure he's already clearing his itenerary so that he can attend as many races as possible

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/crescent-confirms-john-hopkins-rumor/



Crescent Suzuki Confirms Talking to Hopper



Posted Friday, December 10th, 2010 @ 11:09 am, by Jensen Beeler



Being the fine British blokes that they are, MCN was able to get ahold of Crescent Suzuki Boss Jack Valentine, and ask him about the validity to the rumors suggesting that the British Superbike team is pursuing John Hopkins as a possible rider for the 2011 season. Confirming that the rumors were true, but that nothing has been agreed to yet, Valentine told MCN that “Crescent are in discussions with former MotoGP star John Hopkins, who is now fully fit again and finished on the podium in the last two rounds of the AMA series.”



Rumors of Hopper being linked to Crescent Suzuki started on Wednesday, and we amplified yesterday when Asphalt & Rubber broke the news that John Ulrich was no only letting go of John Hopkins as a rider, but also accused the Anglo-American of misleading Team Hammer on his physical condition, particularly with his supposedly healed right hand. While the fallout between Ulrich and Hopkins ends a nearly 20 year relationship between the two AMA personalities, the now recovering Hopkins is still without a ride for the 2011 season.



Crescent Suzuki is likely just one of a few teams that are capitalizing on the opportunity, and is exploring the possibility of adding Hopper to its ranks. Like all motorcycle racing teams though, budgets are tight and the opportunity to add another rider into the team means that additional funds and sponsorships go hand-in-hand with such a decision, which is easier said than done these past few seasons.



With everything that has happened between Ulrich, Hopkins, and Monster Energy Drink, we wouldn’t imagine that Hopper will bring with him the same level of personal sponsorship as he did before in the 2010 season. Time will tell of course.



http://www.powerslide.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=13515

yeah .... Ulrich and Jesse "The Body" Ventura..





like him or not Hopper's a bad ... on a bike... but he got ...... by the Suzuki/Kawai curse... i hope he finds his way back to Moto GP at least a good sat team. Hopper's better than half the grid atm anyhow

xx CURVE xx said:

.. i hope he finds his way back to Moto GP at least a good sat team. Hopper's better than half the grid atm anyhow

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While i don't think Hopper is quite as good as you do, i would like to see him back on the world stage. He is good enough for that no doubt. As much as i'd like it if John did ride in BSB i don't think it is a particularly wise move. As mentioned already are tracks are pretty dangerous, and quite particular too. Maybe he has his eyes on WSBK in the more long term future

Biased opinion I know, but I reckon we have the best domestic series in the world. I think hopper would do well here. As in all of lower class racing though, its a series where the hungry younger riders cut their teeth dreaming of bigger things, or a place where older riders come back to finish their careers. If hopper did come over, I would be surprised if he stayed for more than one or two seasons.

If he just stays upright and doesn't break any bones when he so much as bumps his toe.

Can someone tell me why any WSB teams hav not pick up the man Ryuichi Kiyonari????? Fucc..... dudes a 3 time BSB champ who's got the talent to outride anyone on a good day.

SuperShinya56 said:

Can someone tell me why any WSB teams hav not pick up the man Ryuichi Kiyonari????? Fucc..... dudes a 3 time BSB champ who's got the talent to outride anyone on a good day.

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Because he struggled a lot on HRC equipment when he was in the world championships. It could be argued (most likely by Jumkie) that he is a victim of the troublesome fireblade and did not get a fair chance to prove himself. He obviously has BSB covered so i think it's a shame he isn't trying something else/couldn't get a ride in a higher series.

Yeah, kinda hoped since Kiyo has some strong connections with Honda he would maybe get a shot @ Moto2, seeing as he and the WSBK Fireblade didn't mix very well despite some exceptional results here and there.

heyhuub said:

Yeah, kinda hoped since Kiyo has some strong connections with Honda he would maybe get a shot @ Moto2, seeing as he and the WSBK Fireblade didn't mix very well despite some exceptional results here and there.

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I read an interview with Kiyo in MCN sometime in the autumn and he said that over the last year or two his connections with Honda in Japan have got weaker and weaker as HRC's interest is almost exclusivley in the motogp team.

Well atleast that could give him a better reason to try a different team in WSBK should the opportunity present itself. Still want him to give a shot at the world scene in the future, be it WSBK or something else.

Another rumor but looks to be getting closer to reality. LINK

I predicted before the 2010 BSB season started that my man Ryuichi Kiyonari was gonna win the title...... and guess what? He won it. Shall I pull out the thread?? So eat it haterz !!



My predictions again this year will be the same. Ryuichi Kiyonari will be 4 time BSB Champion !! He's the real deal guys.

Confirmed,Hopper in BSB.



Good luck John. God knows you need some luck.



For you Brits, how competaiive is Crescent Suzuki?

good luck to him!

Jumkie said:

For you Brits, how competaiive is Crescent Suzuki?

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Very. They have won titles in the past, have been working with Suzuki for years and were contenders until the death last season, losing out to HM plant Honda at the final round. However, they have lost their title sponsorship to the Tas team who seem to be spreading from road racing to become the top Suzuki team, i'm not sure which of them is supported by suzuki GB, maybe neither, maybe both.

SuperShinya56 said:

Can someone tell me why any WSB teams hav not pick up the man Ryuichi Kiyonari????? Fucc..... dudes a 3 time BSB champ who's got the talent to outride anyone on a good day.

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You're still around then I see Shitya

i dont like it... Hopper is one of the best pilots out there and should be in GP.. (he's better than most on the grid atm)...plus some of the BSB tracks are bot too safe..recipe for disaster... best of luck though cause i like the dude.

Are the BSB tracks more dangerous than some of our AMA tracks?