Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Red Bull Yamaha MotoGP rider John Hopkins, 18, was stranded overnight in Paris as a result of travel security delays in Chicago.

Hopkins flew out of San Diego on Friday–waiting an hour in a security screening line–en route to a week of extensive training and physical evaluation in France with the team’s full-time trainer. Hopkins has already been following a rigorous training and nutrition program in preparation for the 2002 MotoGp season.

The trouble began when Hopkins sought to transfer to an Air France flight to Paris, which originated in a different terminal than the one his American Airlines flight arrived at.

Two hours lost in security lines at Chicago saw Hopkins arrive at his Air France gate shortly before the flight was scheduled to take off; the Air France flight had been overbooked and Air France had already given Hopkins’ seat away.

Hopkins was rebooked on British Airways through London and arrived in Paris too late to make a flight to his ultimate destination, Clermont.

As of post time, Hopkins was in a hotel near the Paris airport and hoped to continue his travels Sunday morning.