21 John Hopkins MotoRapido Ducati

Having finished 2015 on the podium, John Hopkins had hoped for big things in 2016 but it didn’t come together for the former MotoGP star in Tommy Hill’s ePayMe Yamaha team. For 2017 he returns to the MotoRapido Ducati squad and is confident he’ll return to the form that saw him fighting tooth and nail for the title in 2011. “Testing couldn’t have gone better,” Hopkins told MCN. “I feel amazing on the bike, really at home and felt like that from the get go. We were doing a lot of work on used tyres and that seems to be the biggest benefit of this bike, doing consistent lap times when the tyres are used and not just when they’re brand new. “The bike is hugely improved from when I last rode it. It’s got loads more grunt coming out of the corners and they’ve made some big improvements with engine braking and power delivery.” Having seen Shane Byrne take the Panigale to championship victory last year, Hopkins has big goals for the season ahead. “I’m 100% here to be a front runner and go for the title. The bike is obviously capable and I’d like to think I am as well. Anything but running at the front this year will be a disappointment.”