for another victim. They picked on Suzuki rider John Hopkins, who had by then already shouldered the blame for an over-impetuous start to the race. He charged into the first corner way too fast, and ran straight into Checa's Yamaha. Both fell, and Bayliss

eternal for John Hopkins. He turned down Ducati to keep faith with Suzuki, throwing his confidence behind their promises of a big step forward for 2006.The innovative air-valve bike looks tasty, goes faster and sounds great, but as the season began its

, what happens when you get a competitive rider and a competitive bike.NOT YELLOW AT all - John Hopkins's new teeth. American cosmetic dentistry's finest have been at work over the winter, and the results are dazzling. He won't need a reading light in bed

Tamada won at Rio, breaking a run of 92 consecutive Michelin race wins - and that just four weeks after an exploding rear Bridgestone almost killed Nakano. Tamada won again later in the year; while Roberts took his first pole since 2000, Hopkins his first

there was one more lap to go.Colin Edwards: Find new source of inspiration. Professed resentment of this reporter's adverse comments is not working well enough.Casey Stoner: Must stop being so nice to everybody. (Or is that "start being nice"?)John Hopkins: Get

.So what of his 2007 tactics?Transparent, once again. His trumpetings over the close season blared forth. My main rivals for the forthcoming year, he insisted, will be the Suzukis. An assessment that might make Hopkins and Vermeulen glow proudly

sporting hero". He, luckily, did know who he was.Head-butting has been much in the air, with jockeys now giving errant horses the Newcastle Nod. Next time John Hopkins's Suzuki breaks down, he might try it too.Leave it to Rossi to rub salt in. The man

later in the year by John Hopkins's new fashion trend: wearing his cap over his ears. Hopper's one of the good guys, so I don't like making fun. Then I realised the reason. His garrulous team manager has already been nicknamed 'The Speaking Clock

in the top MotoGP class. Kenny Roberts Jr. and new Suzuki team-mate John Hopkins were there already, but two high-level rookies have doubled the US task force. Colin Edwards comes with two SBK titles in his pocket. Nicky Hayden with an AMA Superbike title

with some 30 teamsters, from director Ichiro Yoda and manager Michael Bartholemy to the catering staff. And three riders, counting tester Olivier Jacque.John Hopkins switched to Kawasaki last year for big money after five years with Suzuki. Crash after crash