Looks fit. The bike should be good. I'm gonna go ahead and predict a BSB championship for him in 2016, as long as he can stay relatively healthy.
I don't know. How well supported is the team by Yamaha? Do they have the budget to do it right? Is Hopkins working on shedding the extra weight and get in better shape?
Epayme has been sponsoring top riders in bsb. Tommy Hill spearheaded a team this season as well. He left them before season's end. The team subsequently tanked through no fault of his own. Hope this effort does better! Good to have him in the paddock.
Tommy has all the contacts and connections, they will be fine! The bike looks shit with those tread tires on it though. The best looking race R1 world wide, is the new Crescent team all in Black to me, that bike looks fast just sitting there.
That is the fittest I have seen Hopper in a long time. He is one of those dudes that struggles with weight/metabolism; any slight lapse in diet and training will immediately result in a big gut. But when he is fit and HEALTHY, he is capable of running up front on a Superbike...in any series. I firmly believe he could battle for WSBK podiums on the right machine if he is fit and healthy.