Historic British victory for Hopkins

From Team Suzuki News Service

John Hopkins made history on Monday when he became the first American to win a British Superbike Championship race. And the Samsung Crescent Racing rider's victory at the Oulton Park circuit came straight after his previous inclusion as the first American to stand on a BSB podium, with second place in the first race.

It was a highly successful outcome for the Suzuki GSX-R1000-mounted team in the second round of the series.

The substantial points haul elevates Hopkins to fourth in the BSB Championship, inside the all-important top-six Title Fighters. As well, with two podiums, Hopkins netted five podium credits, moving him into the joint lead of the Podium Table. Inclusion in the top six Title Fighters is vitally important for Championship success as only the top six in the points standings qualify to compete for the title of British Superbike Champion over the final three rounds of the season.

"That was good, really good," Hopkins said. "It's an awesome track, I really enjoyed riding here, but as well what great fan support. It's been 11 years since I last won a race - that and all that's happened to me over the past few years meant that this was one emotional win. I was definitely teary-eyed on the podium. I couldn't be happier.

"The first race went well and I started well and went with the leaders. At the end of the race I got into second and I had to ride for the finish at that point, but that's never a satisfying feeling. So I knew I wanted to win the second race. Curiously that race didn't go so well early on and I dropped back after the start. I regrouped but still had a lot of work to do to catch the two leaders, so I was definitely the man who gained the most when one of them crashed bringing out the pace car. Even after that it came down to a three-way battle. But the bike felt so good I knew the win was possible. I took the lead with two laps to go and never looked back."

"'Hopper' was brilliant," added team manager Jack Valentine, "taking his time to learn the track and working hard with his crew to find the set-up on his bike that made these results possible. With every ride he built on the success of the last.

"At Brands Hatch last weekend he learned just how tough BSB can be. This weekend he applied those lessons. Oulton Park is not an easy track to master, not by any measure, so his performance this weekend shows he's very much a contender for this Championship."

Race 1 Results:
1. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda)
2. John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +4.150s
3. Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +4.336s
4. Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +4.646s
5. Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +4.684s
6. Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) +5.105s
7. Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +13.582s
8. Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +16.637s
9. Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +19.108s
10. Dan Linfoot (Sorrymate.com Honda) +19.452s

Race 2 Results:
1. John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing)
2. Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.221s
3. Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +0.521s
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.633s
5. Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +1.026s
6. Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +2.930s
7. Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) + 2.949s
8. Peter Hickman (Tyco Honda) +7.183s
9. Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +7.326s
10. Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +7.293s

Championship Standings:
1. Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 70
2. Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 59
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 58
4. John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) 56
5. Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 45
6. Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 35
7. Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors Ducati) 34
8. Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) 29