John Hopkins made history on the weekend when he became the first American to win a British Superbike Championship race. And the Samsung Crescent Racing rider's victory at Cheshire's Oulton Park circuit came straight after his previous inclusion as the first American to stand on a BSB podium, with second place in the first race.
"That was good, really good. It's an awesome track, I really enjoyed riding here, but as well what great fan support! It's been 11 years since I last won a race - that and all that's happened to me over the past few years meant that this was one emotional win. I was definitely teary-eyed on the podium. I couldn't be happier," Hopkins said.
"The racing, as before at Brands Hatch, was intense; there was carnage at times. But with my motocross background I can endure that. The first race went well and I started well and went with the leaders. At the end of the race I got into second and I had to ride for the finish at that point, but that's never a satisfying feeling."
It was a highly successful outcome for the Suzuki GSX-R1000-mounted team in the second round of the series as Hopkins' team mate Jon Kirkham raced to two fighting seventh place finishes.
"I was very pleased with that first race. I'd left myself with a lot of work to do after qualifying 16th yesterday. To come through, picking them off one-by-one, to take seventh felt really good," Kirkham said.
The substantial points haul elevates Hopkins to fourth in the BSB Championship, inside the all-important top-six Title Fighters. As well, with two podiums, Hopkins netted five podium credits moving him into the joint lead of the Podium Table. Kirkham, too, moved up the points standings to eighth, significantly now just six points adrift of the Title Fighters. Inclusion in the top six Title Fighters is vitally important for Championship success as only the top six in the points standings qualify to compete for the title of British Superbike Champion over the final three rounds of the season.
"What a tremendous weekend! Hopper was brilliant, taking his time to learn the track and working hard with his crew to find the set-up on his bike that made these results possible. With every ride he built on the success of the last," said Team Manager Jack Valentine.
"At Brands Hatch last weekend he learned just how tough BSB can be. This weekend he applied those lessons. Oulton Park is not an easy track to master, not by any measure, so his performance this weekend shows he's very much a contender for this Championship."
