Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Just days after it was announced that he will replace injured Hitoyasu Izutsu on the Fuchs Kawasaki at this weekend’s Lausitzring World Superbike race, German rider Alex Hofmann went testing with Red Bull Yamaha at the reconfigured Assen, Holland track on Wednesday, June 5.

Hofmann, age 22, may fill in for Red Bull Yamaha’s Jean Michel Bayle, who himself is filling in for injured Garry McCoy; Bayle suffered a muscle injury during the Le Mans MotoGP event and may miss the next MotoGP round, at Catalunya June 14-16.

McCoy isn’t expected to return to racing action until the British Grand Prix at Donington Park July 12-14.

Just two weeks ago, Hofmann, who is the 1998 German and European 250cc Grand Prix Champion, tested with Team Roberts on the Bridgestone-shod Proton KR3 at Almeria, say sources in Europe.

Also testing with Red Bull Yamaha at Assen is 19-year-old American John Hopkins, one of the team’s two full-time riders. In an e-mail to Roadracingworld.com, Hopkins reported that Assen’s new layout is three-miles long with 26 corners and is very distinctive.

The MotoGP event at Assen is scheduled for June 27-29.