P&H Motorcycles News & Events

Alvaro Bautista will be joined in the Suzuki team by John Hopkins in Malaysia.

American rider John Hopkins will be back in Rizla Suzuki motorcycle clothing this season as he is set to compete in the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Hopkins has been given a wild card entry to compete as part of a two-man team alongside Alvaro Bautista.

The 28-year-old has already turned out twice for the team so far this year, deputising for Bautista after he was injured in Qatar.

After missing out in Brno due to a crash, Hopkins is desperate to take this chance in Malaysia to prove that he is capable of competing in MotoGP.

"I am really pumped to get this chance to ride in a MotoGP race with the Rizla Suzuki team. I thought after Brno that I wouldn't get the opportunity again," he said.

It is to Hopkins' advantage that the Suzuki GSV-R is significantly more competitive than it was when it last rode it.

In the last race at Aragon, Bautista finished comfortably ahead of the Ducatis in sixth place.

Posted by Paul Searle