JOHN HOPKINS RETURNS HOME TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO PROMOTE RED BULL U.S. GRAND PRIX Los Angeles, Calif. (June 30, 2005) — Team Suzuki factory rider John Hopkins took advantage of his week off after Assen and came home to Southern California for some much-needed rest and to promote the upcoming Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, July 8-10 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Hopkins and teammate Kenny Roberts, Jr., will compete as the Red Bull Suzuki team at MotoGP’s only series round in North America, its first since 1994. The Los Angeles-born Anglo-American met with the motorsports writers at the three largest newspapers in Southern California, the top broadcast news outlet in Los Angeles and representatives from two national magazines. “I think having such a race in America is actually going to open eyes and knock the borders down and let the sport grow in America,” said Hopkins. “That’s what I’m more interested in. I’ve dedicated my life to this sport, and I always will.” Hopkins began his day on Tuesday meeting with Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune, in Oceanside, near his home in Ramona. He then traveled up the freeway to Long Beach and met with the Orange County Register’s Damian Dottore and Road Racer X’s Chris Jonnum. Hopkins then guided his BMW M3 across the city to meet with legendary motorsports writer Shav Glick the Los Angeles Times at world-famous Phillippe’s The Original French Dip in downtown Los Angeles, near the Times’ offices. To end the busy day, Hopkins met with a journalist from Popular Science magazine at Red Bull’s offices in Santa Monica before retiring to his beachfront hotel for the evening. On Wednesday, Hopkins headed to California Speedway for a news segment with KNBC-TV. He detailed his rise to MotoGP and promoted MotoGP and the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. Hopkins then gave sports reporter Mario Solis riding tips as they toured the Speedway’s road course and oval on Suzuki GSXR1000 and GSXR600 roadbikes. Hopper will retreat to a Southern California resort and spa before heading north to Monterey for next weekend’s race. “My determination and my focus going into Laguna Seca is as high if not higher than anybody who’s going to that race,” said Hopkins. “I consider next weekend pretty much the most important weekend of my life, up to this point. That’s the way I look at it.” The 2005 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix marks the return of the MotoGP World Championship to the United States for the first time since 1994. Support events include the AMA Superbike, Superstock and Supersport races, as well as the Yamaha & GE-sponsored Superstars of Super Karts featuring Grand Prix motorcycle legends Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson and Kevin Schwantz. Tickets are still available for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix on the official Web site www.RedBullUSGrandPrix.com, by calling (800) 327-SECA or logging onto www.laguna-seca.com or www.ticketmaster.com. More information on the MotoGP World Championship is available at www.motogp.com. About Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and SCRAMP: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was built in 1957 and has been operated since its inception by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP). The world-renowned 2.238-mile, 11-turn permanent road course has seen many of the all-time greats in motorsports grace its technically challenging layout that includes the spectacular signature Corkscrew (Turns 8 and 8A). Among the many who have raced here are the likes of Mario Andretti, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz, Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart and on and on through a virtual who’s who of automobile and motorcycle racing. SCRAMP is a not-for-profit corporation that donates net proceeds from each race season to the volunteer organizations that help put on the events at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.