BSB: Hopkins back on the podium at Oulton

John Hopkins returned to the podium to clinch MotoRapdio Ducati’s best result of the season in second place in Sunday’s wet opening race.

The former MotoGP star mastered the conditions to become embroiled in a hard battle for second place with Leon Haslam and Christian Iddon while leader Dan Linfoot was ten seconds up the road.

With Iddon crashing, the two-way battle for the runner-up spot became the battle for the lead when Linfoot blew up and Hopkins looked set to take it to Haslam had it not been for the race then being red flagged due to potential track contamination from the stricken Honda. 

“I’m mega pleased with that result as we thought the race was going to be dry and sat out morning warm-up!” Hopkins said. “It was just about riding to the conditions, I had a bit of a visibility issue but I just got on with it.

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“Of course I’m gutted we didn’t get to race to the chequered flag as I think I could have beaten him. Of course I think that, but what I will say is I’d have definitely had a go! 

“It’s nice to be on the rostrum after a tough season, the MotoRapido Ducati guys have worked really hard this year and they deserve this. Hopefully we can have a few more before the end of the year and be the showdown spoilers as they say!”

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