Kawasaki Racing Team has all the reasons to be happy as at the Grand Prix of Shanghai John Hopkins has reached the 100 attendance in the queen class.

Even greater for Kawasaki is the fact that their famous pilot isn’t even yet in its best form so we should be soon witnessing an ascendant graphic of the Hopkin’s performance and hopefully a successful attempt to repeat last year’s result. Then, on the Chinese track John Hopkins adjudicated its first MotoGP podium.

Their chances are well sustained by the fifth place obtained at Estroil due to the awesome performance of the new Screamer engine of the Ninja ZX-RR.

John Hopkins declared:


"I spent two wonderful weeks very relaxing to my house in California. While on vacation, I could not stay away from two wheels and so I enjoyed with the motocross. "

"Now I think the race on Sunday. I am very optimistic after the splendid fifth place achieved in Portugal and after comforting tests. The Bridgestone is working well and the ZX-RR is increasingly competitive. Last year in China I was for the first time on the MotoGP podium. I think I have all it takes to be able to repeat with Kawasaki. "


But the sun didn’t equally shine for Hopkin’s teammate, Anthony West. The Australian had a difficult beginning of 2008 but it hopes that the slightly retuned Ninja ZX-RR and the extra training will make a difference in Shanghai.

Anthony West:


"After the last GP at Estoril I was in the States where I practiced a lot with the bike and relaxed for a couple of weeks. The Shanghai route should be favorable to the characteristics of our Ninja ZX-RR, at ease in fast curves. I feel fit and I will do everything possible to improve and get a good result. "