Hopkins rules himself out of 2013
FIXI Crescent Suzuki rider John Hopkins will be taking a sabbatical from professional motorcycle racing for 2013 as he aims for a return to full fitness before considering the next steps in his career.
Hopkins has been struggling with injuries for the whole 2012 season and was forced to withdraw early from the World Superbike event in France due to a re-occurrence of his hip injury. He initially had to have a finger-top amputated in January, due to the after-effects of an injury from 2011, and then crashed heavily in a pre-season test in Australia and broke the same hand. He had to undergo six surgeries, including failed corrective surgeries, suffered a severe infection and eventual amputation of the finger in a span of four months. Then the same hand was badly broken only six weeks after the amputation, which resulted in the 29th surgery of his career - at only 29-years-old! Hopkins made a return to the Suzuki GSX-R at the Imola round, but then crashed heavily two events later in Monza, a massive high-side that resulted in him severely injuring his hip.
Hopkins again returned to competitive action after a one-race lay-off, but has battled against the damage to his hip for the remainder of the season. He has shown glimpses of the talent that led him to fourth place in the MotoGP World Championship in 2007 and to the fantastic performances in BSB in 2011, but has been unable to produce the form he knows he needs to be as competitive on the world stage. Hopkins will return home to America to have further tests and repair evaluations on his injured hip and will then decide what his next course of action will be.
"I have really struggled with my hip since the crash at Monza and I know that it is a priority to get my health sorted before I can even think about racing again" declared Hopkins. " I didn't want to pledge myself to the FIXI Crescent Suzuki team for 2013 and then not be able to give 100% because the injury is a constant worry, so although this is a difficult decision it is the correct one. I will be going back to America for a bunch of tests and then we'll decide what the best course of action is. If that is a hip replacement or something similar, then that is what I am prepared to do to make sure I can get my health and fitness back. At the moment the injury is influencing everything I do in my home, personal and racing life, so I need to get it sorted out properly. I still have the desire and passion to race against the world's best riders but every time I have pumped myself up to go for it this season, the hip has quickly and painfully reminded me that I need to be careful - and that's no way to go racing.
"Everyone at the team has been very supportive this year, because they know what I've been through, so I want to send my thanks to them for all their encouragement and backing. I'd like to also thank all the racing fans and my personal sponsors - in particular Arai, Alpinestars and Monster who have been with me for so long - they have all been so positively behind me, I'm sorry that it's not worked out this year, but I really do hope to be back!"
