Hopkins to join Kawasaki in 2008

Hopkins has been at the centre of speculation about his future, but reports in Motor Cycle News on Tuesday have revealed that the American has now signed a deal to join Kawasaki in 2008. It suggests an announcement will be made at this weekend's German Grand Prix.

Although there has been no official word on the deal from Kawasaki, Rizla Suzuki's MotoGP boss Paul Denning has confirmed to MCN that Hopkins will leave them at the end of this season.

"We have been informed by John's management that he has signed for Kawasaki," Denning told MCN.

"We have still got 50 per cent of the 2007 season to go and it's obviously a disappointment from Suzuki's point of view.

"Suzuki had made John a strong and a solid offer and he has chosen to go in a different direction for whatever reasons those maybe. From our point of view that's something we respect and have to go along with.

"But as I said we still have 50 per cent of the season to go and John Hopkins is still a Rizla Suzuki Grand Prix rider and we will be giving him absolutely everything as we always do to try and help him and get him into the top three in the championship."