Hopkins relief at historic victory
Added on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor
Hopkins relief at historic victory
John Hopkins admitted that he could not hide his emotions after securing his first British Superbike victory, bringing an end to a difficult two years for the American.
Hopkins secured a race two victory for Samsung Crescent Suzuki at Oulton Park, his first race win for more than a decade, to become the first American to win a British Superbike race.
After becoming a victim of Kawasaki’s decision to quit MotoGP at the end of 2008, Hopkins has struggled with injuries, as well as the collapse of the Stiggy Honda WSB team, before being picked up from AMA by Crescent Suzuki and the popular 27-year-old admitted that emotions got the better of him following his historic victory.
“That was good, really good. It’s an awesome track, I really enjoyed riding here, but as well what great fan support,” he claimed. “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 racing, as before at Brands Hatch, was intense; there was carnage at times. But with my motocross background I can endure that. 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.
“A big thank you to the crew for this weekend. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
