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Silver Bullet is one of only a few Websites worldwide that receives Desiree Crossman`s newsy behind the MotoGP scene column (not always PC). She reports on #21 John (Hopper) Hopkin`s MotoGP exploits and her own as they travel the globe.
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Back in Spain, Finally:
The start of the IRTA tests here in Cataluyna. It\'s been along time since we\'ve been at a test.
After John broke his ankles, it was definitely an extended stay back in southern California. There was a short stint where it was miserable because there was a period where it rained constantly for nearly two weeks. For some parts of the world, like Paradise Island (England), it\'s normal weather, but for us it was hard. But when the first day of heat came, everybody and their mother was at the beach. Spring came around. Back to clear skies and heat.
The past few months have been different with John\'s injury and staying back home more. We had our flights booked for the tests down in Phillip Island and then onto Spain for the Valencia test. Not only that, but we were planning on going to watch Garry McCoy ride in his first WSK race. Things didn\'t work out, so slowly we had to start cancelling trips. John was advised to stay back home as well to heal properly and to be 100% for the IRTA tests. He wasn\'t too happy to not be able to ride but at the end of the day, it was for his best interests. It was bit hard for John to stay at home after the injury and the recuperation because he was limited to what he could do. Not too mention we had our spell of not so beautiful weather so being house ridden was driving us crazy.
He did however go to Daytona for the AMA season opener while I stayed back in California. I\'ve never been to Daytona but apparently it\'s a crazy place to be during Bike Week. While he was down there, he did a tv show called \"Wind Tunnel\" with Dave Despain live, so my friend and I watched him on tv back at home. And of course, he had his Red Bull can right infront. He also hung out with people he used to race against and met a few celebrities along the way. He phoned me up telling me he met all time greatest basketball player, Michael Jordan. We\'re not basketball fans, I don\'t pay attention. But EVERYONE knows MJ. I guess he owns a race team now and he was down there hanging at a club. John told me someone beckoned him to go meet Mr. Jordan and have a chat with him, so he did. I don\'t know everyone\'s impression on him, but John thought he was a pretty humble guy, so that was neat. I was impressed, never know who you\'re going to meet in the racing industry, alot of the time it\'s a random coincidence. Now adays anyone and/or everyone is into anything and/or everything.
I had a bit of fun as well though prior to coming here. I have two girlfriends who\'ve never been out of the country and they had a spring break. So, instead of doing what everyone else does, which is mostly going to Mexico, I convinced them to go to London. Alot of people kept asking \"why London?\", the flight was cheap and it was different than Mexico. Besides, it\'s fun going to a different country and seeing the lifestyle. Plus it would be a bit easier for them cause\' they obviously speak English. The weather of course wasn\'t going to be the greatest but we had a blast anyway. We stayed in London at John\'s cousin\'s house and took the tube everywhere. We managed to get into a few exclusive clubs in London, and went to this one club called China White was the funnestWe also took a limo ride around London to see the sites, in which John organized in cooperation with his cousin. It was a surprise for us and it was really cool. We also went to a very nice spa in Covent Gardens called the Sanctuary. We felt like we were important for a few days. London is a blast, except for the weather. We went a week before John and I had to come to Spain so, once I sent my friends off back home, I hung around for a few days and then met John at the airport while he was in transit. A few days before he left, he phoned me up telling me he was at a party in Hollywood. Then I didn\'t hear from him so I didn\'t know where he was.
Eventually, we spoke and he told me that when he woke up from the party, he went outside to see the truck gone. Someone stole the truck and then crashed it. The police eventually found it somewhere on Wilshire Blvd, which is semi-infamous, and the whole entire front end was bashed in. But the thieves didn\'t take John\'s mobile phone or wallet which was in the centre consule. I assume once they took it for a joy ride and crashed it, they fled the scene real quick. So John had to call his sister to come pick him up in LA so he could fly out the next day. There\'s nothing that can be done now except deal with the insurance, police report, ect.... It\'s a headache but oh well.
Nevertheless, now we are here in Spain. The weather isn\'t so good at the moment, right now as I write this, IT\'S SNOWING!! I hope it\'s not like this for the ret of the weekend. It\'s great to see alot of people in the paddock again and see everyone we haven\'t seen since last race. The thing is, you know eveyone here has the same lifestyle as you, you\'re all here for the same reason.
I\'m sure everyone is eager to hear about the bike, and the truth is, we won\'t know until tomorrow when everyone is out there on the track. John won\'t know about the bike until he gets on it and we\'re eager to see the improvements. Heard about them, now we can see it.
Bye
Desiree
