Hopkins to race in 2009 world superbike

Former American MotoGP rider John Hopkins will compete in the balance of this year's Superbike World Championship on a Honda.

The Californian was left without a MotoGP ride in 2009 when his former employer, Kawasaki, suspended all factory grand prix activity in January, citing the need to allocate resources more efficiently in difficult economic times.

Since then the company has reversed its decision, but will only campaign Italian Marco Melandri, who had originally left Ducati at the end of last season to join Kawasaki.

Resisting the temptation to return home and race, Hopkins has now been given a world championship lifeline with professional Swedish team Stiggy Honda, whose British rider Leon Haslam finished on the podium in round one at Phillip Island.

"I am really excited to get back out on the track and have nothing but good expectations, : said Hopkins. "I have been watching WSBK over the past few years and the series is always very exciting.

"Each year, it keeps growing and growing and drawing more and more attention. The racing season seems a lot tighter than in MotoGP. The machines seem more evenly matched so, all and all, I am just really excited to get started.
 
"Right from the start, in the first race, Leon showed that the bike could be put on the podium. The Stiggy Racing Honda has already proved that it is competitive and I would just like to adapt to it as quickly as possible. I want to be able to run at the front right from the get-go."

Stiggy also has a world supersport team, with Australian Anthony West one of the riders.

Hopkins' compatriot Ben Spies has been the revelation in this year's world superbike title, winning three of the first four races, including a double victory in Qatar's round two.

Hopkins, a seven-year MotoGP veteran at just 25 years old, will make his WSBK debut in round three at Valencia in Spain on April 6 - a track he knows well from his MotoGP career.

Pic: Hopkins in his MotoGP days on a Kawasaki