An American (okay, so we know he is part British) has yet to win a BSB race, so Hopper could become the first as he sets out to re-build his racing career, which has suffered in recent years with injury and poor decisions, amongst other factors.

John Hopkins:
“I am really looking forward to BSB and working with Crescent again, it will obviously be a different crew but I know they are a great group of guys and that will be a good foundation to start the season.

“It is going to be a huge challenge for me, I know there are new tracks to learn, but I am not too concerned, I have to say with a passion for motocross I am definitely looking forward to Cadwell Park! I have seen the racing and photos from there and I can’t wait to have a go myself.

“I have seen BSB races before and I know that there is some tough competition there, so I am excited to get started – especially as I haven’t raced most of the other riders before. It is pretty much a level playing field in terms of the riders and their experiences, but that always makes for the best racing.

“Everyone says how close BSB is and I know that it will be the same this season, but I know I am joining one of the top teams and we will have been testing ready for the start of the championship

“I have been unlucky with injury in past seasons – that comes with the territory but I can honestly say that I am fitter than I have ever been before, both mentally and physically. I know I had a reputation in the past, but it has all changed and my focus is on racing and I am really enjoying it.

“I wouldn’t be coming to BSB if I didn’t think I could be successful and I think it will be a better stepping stone for my future. The team had a great season last year and I am confident in them and the bike that we will be up there where we need to be.

“My style really suits the Suzuki and I am looking forward to riding the full-blown Superbike again, as in the U.S series the bikes are more restricted.”

Bautista will be performing some high-speed demo laps on his Rizla Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP bike on the Saturday and the Sunday, for the fans.

Álvaro Bautista:
“It will be interesting for me to go to Brands Hatch because I have never been there before and it is such a famous track. It will be good to learn another circuit and to visit a totally new place. To have new experiences like this is always good and it will be interesting for me to ride the bike and get more of a feeling for it at different places. I am looking forward to doing the demo run and showing the British fans that have never seen a MotoGP bike just what it is all about.”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:
“We are delighted to be able to support Suzuki GB in their 50 years of racing celebrations and to bring the sight and sound of a fully-blown MotoGP bike to the Brands Hatch BSB race. This is a great opportunity for Suzuki to showcase the GSV-R’s technology and incredible sound in-front of a different audience. The link between the MotoGP bike and the Suzuki GSX-R – which is celebrating its 25th anniversary – is evident in their racing ancestry, so to see the two machines together at one event will be very special – albeit one will be racing for victory in the hands of Tommy, Yukio, Michael and Alistair and the other will just be ridden slightly less aggressively on its demo laps!

“Álvaro is looking forward to riding the Brands Hatch GP track, he’s heard a lot about it and I’m not sure if he’s scared or excited, but I’m positive he’ll let the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R rip and provide great entertainment. MSV put on a fantastic show last year and we hope we’ll be able to make it even bigger and better this year. There’ll be another rider or two experiencing the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP GSV-R for the first time as well – so watch this space for details!”

Got to highlight this fantastic DVD set for motorcycle racing fans. This is exactly the sort of treatment that the MotoGP season review DVDs need – Duke Video, take note and start offering stuff like this on the MotoGP season reviews please!

This is the limited edition DVD of the British Superbike 2009 season. It contains 4 DVD’s in 2 Double Disc sets that contain over eleven hours of race action. This luxury fabric wallet contains the British Superbike Season Review 2009 and British Superbike Behind the Scenes 2009. The wallet also has a double zip puller. This is the ultimate collectors edition of this years British Superbike Season.

Where to buy British Superbike 2009 Collector’s Edition [DVD]:
Best prices can be found online at Amazon.co.uk. More detail below:

That said, he’s still managed to bag more points than Marco Melandri on the factory Ducati.

Suzuki BSB Team Manager Jack Valentine said: “Sylvain brings MotoGP class to Suzuki and British Superbikes and I think he will be a race and Championship contender. He has real pedigree as his efforts in MotoGP have proved over the last two years, the sort of determination to succeed that matches the team’s ambitions and one of the best Superbikes in the world at his disposal in the Crescent developed Suzuki GSX-R1000.

“This signing means Suzuki will be fighting for top honours in BSB 2009. We will be putting a full test and development programme in place for Sylvan and no stone will be left unturned in our efforts to win.

“Sylvain will make his debut appearance for the team at the Suzuki stand at the NEC Show in late November and he is already excited to meet the public and fans. He is a breath of fresh air to the team and one that we have utmost confidence in for success in 2009.”

Suzuki GB Marketing Manager George Cheeseman said: “It is fantastic news that Sylvan has chosen to ride for Suzuki’s official British Superbike team – it is credit to the team and the BSB series that it can attract such an international talent.

“Suzuki is absolutely committed to success on the race track and this signing proves how serious we are at getting back the BSB title we won in 2004. Sylvan will have the all new GSX-R1000 at his disposal and together I think they will make a fantastic partnership and one that will lead from the front.”