John Hopkins, Shanghai dan Sejarah MotoGP

Bagi John Hopkins barangkali GP Shanghai 2007 bakal tak akan terlupakan dalam hidupnya. Sejak kiprah pertamanya di MotoGP dari tahun 2002 baru kali ini dirinya merasakan podium juara meski di peringkat ke-3.

"Saya teramat bahagia hari ini, kerja keras kami selama ini berbuah manis, dan kami yakin akan selalu mencetak prestasi yang spektakuler sepanjang race nanti, " kata Hopkins menanggapi kemenangannya di GP Shanghai.

John Hopkins lahir di Ramona, USA pada tanggal 22 Mei 1983. Sebelum pindah ke MotoGP ia mengikuti balapan di kejuaraan AMA Supersport.

Debut balap MotoGP ia jalani pada tahun 2002 di sirkuit Suzuka, GP Jepang bersama tim satelit Yamaha, Red Bull Yamaha WCM. Bersama rekan satu timnya, Garry McCoy ia mengendarai Yamaha YZR 500 2 tak, sementara tim pabrikan Yamaha dan pabrikan lain sudah mulai mengganti motor dengan mesin 4 tak.

Di tahun 2003 ia bergabung dengan tim pabrikan Suzuki, menjadi rekan satu tim Kenny Roberts, JR. Ia berada di posisi 17 klasemen akhir 2003 dengan 29 poin.

John Hopkins
PERSONAL DETAILS
NAME: JOHN HOPKINS
TEAM: RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP
NATIONALITY: AMERICAN
DATE OF BIRTH: San Diego, California 22/05/1983
MARRIED: SINGLE

2007 Remains at Rizla Suzuki alongside Vermeulen, with high hopes for the first year of 800cc racing.

2006 Remains at Suzuki, now backed by Rizla, where he is joined by new team-mate Chris Vermeulen. Enjoys his best season yet, highlighted by a debut pole position at Assen, but is unable to claim his first podium finish. Finishes fourth on two occasions. Tenth overall in championship.

2005 Despite interest from other teams, signs for third season at Suzuki and alongside Roberts. Confirms speed and, like Roberts, battles for lead in wet races in China and Britain - but is unable to get his first podium. Highlight of year is best ever GP finish of 5th in Japan and front row starts at Motegi and Sepang. 14th in championship.

2004 Continues with Suzuki alongside Kenny Roberts Jr. A pre-season Supercross injury hampers early season performance, but Hopper delivers a strong second half of year. Best result sixth at Portuguese Grand Prix. Finishes 16th in world championship despite being injured in first turn Motegi pile-up.

2003 Signs for Team Suzuki, but the 2003 spec GSV-R has serious handling problems from the start. Outperforms team-mate - and former world champion - Kenny Roberts but is left 17th in the championship. Best result seventh at Jerez - Suzuki's best finish of the year. Low point of season is a controversal ban from Malaysia following a first turn pile-up at Motegi.

2002 MotoGP debut with Red Bull Yamaha - 15th in championship with 58 points after an impressive season.

2001 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion (GSX-R1000).

2000 AMA 750 Supersport (GSX-R750) .

1999 Full Road Racing debut; Aprilia RS250 Cup Champion.

1986 Tarmac debut, First Race Win (minibikes).

END OF 2006:

STARTS: N/A
WINS: 0
POLES: 1
FASTEST LAPS: 0
POINTS: N/A
DEBUT: SUZUKA 2002.
DRIVEN FOR: TEAM SUZUKI (2003-2005) / RED BULL YAMAHA (2002)