John Hopkins closing in on 2008 MotoGP decision

John Hopkins has confirmed to MCN he has three firm offers for the 2008 MotoGP world championship, with every premier class manufacturer expressing an interest in capturing the American’s signature.

Hopkins is to sit down and assess his options with manager Bob Moore this week, with the 24-year-old hoping to make an announcement about his future at next weekend’s German GP at the Sachsenring.

As well as official offers from Kawasaki’s factory team, an offer to stay put with Suzuki is on the table, and he has also confirmed receiving an official proposal from Yamaha’s satellite team run by the French-based Tech 3 squad.

Those three firm offers are backed up by a recent approach from Fausto Gresini’s Honda satellite squad, and tentative talks took place with Ducati’s official factory team at last month’s Catalunya GP in Barcelona.

Hopkins told MCN: “I’m getting very close to a decision. Hopefully in Germany I’ll have an answer and an announcement. That’s the plan. I told Suzuki and everybody else that once Assen was out of the way I’ll make some decisions because the last four weeks have been really hectic and I’ve needed to focus on racing. There is a lot of interest and now its time to sit down and see what everyone is offering and the bike being offered.”

Hopkins confirmed contract offers from Suzuki, Kawasaki and Tech 3 Yamaha and on other talks he said: “A satellite Honda team is interested but it never got as far as a concrete offer. Ducati made some contact in Barcelona. They have Casey [Stoner] and I’m pretty sure it will be tough to stray away form an Italian rider.”

Should Loris Capirossi quit Ducati though Marlboro Ducati boss Livio Suppo denied his replacement would have to be Italian.

“It is not essential that Ducati has an Italian rider. We don’t care about nationality. It’s not the nationality it’s the speed,” said Suppo.

Rizla Suzuki boss Paul Denning confirmed Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen had offers to extend their contracts. “We are into detailed discussions with both guys. The target was always to try and get things tied up before the end of July with the details finalised by Brno and that’s still the case,” said Denning.