Hopkins maintains form at Malaysian tests

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — American John Hopkins maintained his blistering form at MotoGP testing, topping unofficial lap times on his GSV-R800 machine at the second day of the tests in Malaysia. Clocking a time of 2min 01.806sec, the Suzuki rider bettered his time set Monday of 2min 02.277sec and marked himself as the rider to watch in the new 800cc era.

Compatriot Colin Edwards of Yamaha Factory Racing was second-fastest and joined Hopkins as the only other rider to break under two minutes and two seconds, with a time of 2min 01.930 seconds. Hopkins' teammate, Australian Chris Vermeulen, was third among the 20 riders with a time of 2min 02.275 seconds around the 5.5-kilometre track. Five-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi was fifth, setting a time of 2min 02.619 seconds on his...