Monster Energy Drink to sponsor Valentino Rossi, instead of John Hopkins

[Cajun]

With all the back-and-forth going on whether Kawasaki would be in MotoGP or not this season, Monster Energy Drink wasn’t willing to take the season to chance. They have decided to drop John Hopkins from their payroll, and have added Valentino Rossi instead. In a few days we are expecting to hear a formal announcement of the agreement, but the terms have already been leaked. Monster will sponsor Rossi for 2 years, to the tune of 2.5 million euros, plus a bonus of another half a million euros if he wins the Championship.

This news is a devastating blow to John Hopkins who’s ride for 2009 is still up in the air. Monster’s sponsorship of the American rider helped defray the cost a team had to incurr to have Hopper riding with them. Now without the help from Monster, Hopkins is going to have to take a massive pay-cut, or find a team willing to pay him more than he’s probably worth at this point.

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/raci...-john-hopkins/

[AlBundy]

This soap just gets better and betterer...

[NZsarge]

I can understand where Monster are coming from but that's a kick in the guts for Mr Hopkins...

[cowpoos]

Hmmmm....alot of bullshit floating about at the moment!!

[gav]

And after Hopkins dropped Red Bull to chase the big bucks of Monster!