“Hopper” will compliment Monster Energy’s existing stable of elite road racers
CARLSBAD, Calif., (Jan. 22, 2007) – News out of Monster Energy headquarters today was that the company has just signed California-born MotoGP racer John Hopkins to a sponsorship deal that will have him running the iconic Monster Energy logo on the No. 21 Rizzla Suzuki GP bike, effective immediately. Monster Energy is looking for a worldwide reach via the sponsorship of Hopkins.
Hopkins, who finished 10th overall in the GPs last year, will be racing the new 800cc Suzuki GVSR – a bike that he just yesterday set the fastest test time on during the first day of MotoGP testing at the Sepang course in Malaysia.
“Monster Energy and I are going to be an excellent fit on the GP tour,” said Hopkins. “It’ll be cool having Monster Energy aboard with us for the GP season, beginning this week with testing at Sepang.”
Hopkins’ racing career has spanned several decades, beginning with motocross and dirt track in southern California and leading up to the ultimate in road racing – a Suzuki MotoGP factory ride in 2003. In between that time Hopkins laid down some amazing lines here in the States racing on the AMA Superbike tour.
In 1999, following the passing of his father, himself a former Isle of Man TT racer, Hopkins was picked up by the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki program where the then teenager won the AMA Formula Xtreme title in 2001. Hopkins used that title as a springboard to the GPs and has raced the global circuit ever since.
To check out some more information on Hopkins and the Rizzla Suzuki MotoGP team, link to www.suzuki-motogp.com or www.motogp.com.
