2000 AMA 750cc Supersport and the 2001 AMA 1000cc Formula Xtreme champion, and four-time MotoGP™ podium finisher John Hopkins revealed that he’ll be working with Moto2™ team American Racing as a rider coach and mentor for the 2020 season.
Speaking with Matt Dunn and Fran Wyld on the post-Valencia GP Last On the Brakes MotoGP™ podcast, the American revealed “I’m flying out to Valencia to help out the American Racing team in Moto2.”
“I’ll be working with American hopeful Joe Roberts and their new, upcoming Moto3 to Moto2 rider Marcos Ramirez.”
Roberts will have hoped for more from his first season with American Racing, with a best result of 14th in Le Mans and Assen, whilst Ramirez, who finished third with Leopard Racing in Moto3™ moves to the intermediate class, replacing Iker Lecuona who moves to the MotoGP™ team Red Bull KTM Tech 3.
Both American Racing and Hopkins teased fans with photos on their social media accounts during the Moto2™ private Valencia test, promising “news to come!!”.
Hopkins’ objective seems clear as the team not only faces the challenge of a new rider in 2020, “They’re switching over from KTM chassis to Kalex chassis for the 2020 season, so I’m going to go over, help them out with a little rider coaching, rider mentor and see if I can help them find their way with the Kalex chassis”.
Eitan Butbul, American Racing Team Manager explained “Hopkins will join the team as rider coach and mentor to support and help us achieve our goals to be at the top in 2020. We are also working with John on a new program in the US to find and support young American talents on the route to the world championship," adding "More news will come very soon”.
Roberts and Ramirez, after taking part in the 100km dei Campioni, will be back in action after the winter break at the Jerez Moto2™ and Moto3™ Test.