Suzuki not rushing to sign Hopkins and Vermeulen

Suzuki’s factory MotoGP team boss Paul Denning has told MCN he is in no rush to secure the services of John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen for the 2008 MotoGP world championship.

Hopkins and French GP winner Vermeulen have been the subject of early intense speculation about their ’08 plans, with both linked to moves to Kawasaki and Yamaha next season.

Their contracts with Suzuki expire at the end of the current season but Denning said serious negotiations wouldn’t commence until the end of June.

Denning though admitted that widespread interest in his two riders had forced Suzuki to begin discussions earlier than had been previously anticipated.

“We don’t want to get into any detail until the end of June. At that point at least we’ll be halfway through the season and it makes more sense then to start getting into detail, “said Denning, who confirmed to MCN that he instructed representatives of Hopkins and Vermeulen at last weekend’s Italian GP in Mugello of Suzuki’s intention to retain the services of both.

“We have made it very clear to John and Chris’s people of where we want to be and that it is a target and our intention to retain them both. We believe they have both got the potential to challenge for the championship. It’s got earlier and earlier because the performance of our bike has picked up and the level of the riders has too, then other teams become interested.

“Suzuki has to keep its options open too, but I genuinely don’t believe there is another team or package that either of them wants to go. It’s been brought forward but some teams are more desperate for riders and therefore they are going to be fishing more early because their projects are not going to go forward unless they have the right rider on board,” said Denning.