Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s John Hopkins finished second in AMA action at Brainerd International Raceway and cut the points gap in the Formula Xtreme Championship chase to just 13 points with three rounds and about 111 points still in play in the season.
Hopkins led most of the race but was passed in the final corner and just beaten to the line by half-a-wheel-length. More important, the points leader was back in seventh place. Hopkins’ teammate Grant Lopez was sixth.
In 600cc Supersport, Hopkins battled with the lead group and appeared to have third place secured late in the race, but got passed two corners from the finish, crossing the line fourth. Lopez was 10th.
In 750cc Supersport, Ben Spies finished fifth after running second early-on.