MotoGP racer John Hopkins told Roadracingworld.com that despite rumors to the contrary, he will not be racing a Superbike in the United States in 2009. “No. Definitely not!” said Hopkins when reached on his cell phone today, as he worked to remove Christmas lights from his Southern California home. “No, I’ll stay in the world series. If Kawasaki does pull out we’ll do everything we can to stay in MotoGP racing.” Although Kawasaki team members were notified by e-mail that the company was pulling out of MotoGP racing in 2009, no official announcement has been made. A meeting was held at the company’s headquarters in Japan last week to discuss worldwide racing activities. In the U.S., Roger Hayden is under a two-year (2008-2009) contract to ride a ZX-10R and a ZX-6R. Jamie Hacking turned down a Yamaha offer to renew with Kawasaki for the 2009 season, signing and returning a contract. But the contract has not yet been ratified and returned by Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A.