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Home arrow MotoGP News arrow Hopkins: 'one target only and that was to win'

Hopkins: 'one target only and that was to win'

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Sunday, 05 March 2006
The Suzukis looked strong in the wet conditions of the main Catalunya IRTA test session, with John Hopkins briefly going fastest before a small crash ended his afternoon and Vermeulen taking fifth on his first outing in the wet on the GSV-R MotoGP bike.

John Hopkins

"It was pretty dangerous out on the track this afternoon as there was hardly any temperature on the surface. I went out and got comfortable in the wet and ended up staying out there. The track got better and better and I think I just got too greedy too early on. I made a mistake and ended up going over the top and making a small high-side. I'd like to say I was not trying too hard because the first race is not for two weeks but I ended up crashing - so I guess I must have been! We have done a lot of good stuff this weekend and it's looking positive for Jerez - right now I'm pretty happy about the whole situation."

Chris Vermeulen

"Today from a test point of view was ok, in the fact that I got some wet time on the track which I needed. I've never ridden the new Rizla Suzuki GSV-R in the rain and have very little experience of the Bridgestones in the wet. The bike worked well and I was happy with my performance. I was not worried about winning the car as my goal was to get experience and to get quicker and quicker with every lap, but I am happy that I was quite competitive. This morning there was some dry time and I did five laps but my shoulder was quite stiff so I came in and got some treatment on it - it feels ok now. We still have a lot of things to test in Jerez - which is another new track for me - and I'm really looking forward to it."

Paul Denning - Team Manager

"The third and final day of this Official MotoGP Test only brings Rizla Suzuki MotoGP more encouragement for the season ahead. In the very cold but dry conditions this morning, John did his fastest dry lap of the weekend - again without a qualifying tyre. This afternoon in the wet timed session he had one target only and that was to win. It looked like a straight battle between John and Valentino Rossi, but I think they pushed each other to the limit and both ended up watching the last 10 minutes of the session.

"Chris had never ridden the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R in the wet and took a different approach to the session. He gained experience with every lap and his customary steady progress made him the quickest Bridgestone rider and the fifth quickest overall. It was a fantastic job which will give him more encouragement as we go to Jerez and head towards the first race of the year."


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