SUPERB FIGHT BACK FOR HOPKINS, AS LUCKLESS ROBERTS JR RETIRES WHILE LEADING
01 May 2005 - Suzuki Racing

21 year-old Team SUZUKI MotoGP racer John Hopkins had his best finish of the season to date at the Taobao Grand Prix of China today, having fought back from an off-track excursion to a superb seventh place.

Team-mate Kenny Roberts Jr was cruelly forced to retire whilst comfortably leading the race, his Suzuki GSV-R and Bridgestone tyres looking unbeatable until fate intervened.

Both racers led the first ever MotoGP race to be held at the futuristic Shanghai International Circuit, which was held in heavy rain throughout.

Hopkins was first to hit the front but was soon passed by Roberts Jr, a position the former World Champion capitalised upon as he built a strong early lead. Disaster struck for the American when a mechanical problem caused him to retire.

Roberts Jr said: ''I don''t think there is much to say to make it any better. We easily let a first or second place slip today.

''I made a decent start and got to the front on the first lap. Valentino (Rossi) and I pulled away and I was quite comfortable till the bike broke.

''I was nearly a second up on Rossi and a further five seconds up on the next group before the bike stopped and that was that.

''It would be nice to have some good luck as I''ve been struggling to find any in the last couple of races or even last couple of seasons. Maybe this is a sign that things will soon start to improve for me on that side.''

Hopkins made a great start today and led a MotoGP for the first time in his career. Having found his rhythm in a solid fourth position, a big slide in heavy rain caused him to go into the gravel on lap seven, but Suzuki''s young star fought back from this mistake to finish seventh at the flag.

Hopkins commented: ''To be honest I''m pleased with the way I rode, but unfortunately I ran off and lost some places when I was up in fourth. I was comfortable on my Suzuki GSV-R but I pushed too hard and made the error.

''I was trying to make up more time on the riders in front of me - in a place that I knew I could do that - but just overshot and went into the gravel.

''This is my and Suzuki''s best result of the season - so far - and I led a MotoGP for the first time. Now that I''ve done that I really want to do it a lot more!.''

Team Manager Paul Denning had mixed emotions on a day that he witnessed both the Team''s riders lead a Grand Prix. He said: '' It was great to see Kenny pulling away at the front of the field and being so aggressive - and yet so in control.

''Suzuki hasn''t had many opportunities to win a MotoGP recently and we definitely had one today.

''It was soul-destroying to see Kenny looking so strong only for the bike to suffer a mechanical problem. We''re sorry for ourselves but even sorrier for Kenny - he was on a mission and deserved so much more.

''John rode a great race and when he got into his rhythm he set some of the fastest laps.

''A podium was on the cards but he ran off track when the rain was at its heaviest and gone were his chances of his best ever finish.

''Having said that though, he fought back brilliantly and caught the group challenging for the podium but trouble with visibility at the end of the race hampered him from making any more passes.

''We still have a lot of improvements to make in all areas but today''s potential just goes to prove that Team SUZUKI MotoGP is fighting hard in every department.''

The race was watched by 25,348 spectators who witnessed World Champion Valentino Rossi win his second race of the season.

The fourth round of the MotoGP World Championship is on May 15th at Le Mans in France.

Taobao Grand Prix of China (Round three) - Result

1. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 50''02.463: 2. Olivier Jacque (Kawasaki) +1.700: 3. Marco Melandri (Honda) +16.574: 4. Sete Gibernau (Honda) +18.906: 5. Max Biaggi (Honda) +19.551: 6. Jurgen vd Goorbergh (Honda) +21.622: 7. JOHN HOPKINS (TEAM SUZUKI MOTOGP) +25.883: 8. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) +31.033: 9. Nicky Hayden (Honda) +39.299: 10. Ruben Xaus (Yamaha) +40.991: D.N.F KENNY ROBERTS JR (TEAM SUZUKI MOTOGP):

Championship points (after three rounds):

1. Rossi 70: 2. Melandri 45: 3. Alex Barros (Honda) 43: 4. Biaggi 36: 5. Gibernau 33: 6. Edwards 25: 7. Jacque 20: 8. Shinya Nakano (Kawasaki) 19: 9. Carlos Checa (Ducati) 17: 10. Nicky Hayden (Honda) 16: 14. HOPKINS 11: 19. ROBERTS JR 4:

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