Suzuki will field two American riders in next year's MotoGP world championship.

The team have signed teenager John Hopkins to race alongside 2000 500cc world champion and fellow Californian Kenny Roberts Jr.

Hopkins, 19, and Roberts will race the latest version of Suzuki's 990cc V4 GSV-R.

Hopkins replaces Spaniard Sete Gibernau, who has moved to Honda in 2003 as team-mate to Japan's Daijiro Kato.

Hopkins, who has raced in MotoGP for only one year, said: "I am really pleased to have a full factory contract in only my second year of GP racing.

Roberts is staying on with Suzuki

"It's been my dream to be a full factory rider - and it all seems to have happened so fast.

"I want to thank Suzuki for their faith in me. I've had a lot of success with Suzuki in the past, and I know this team gives me the potential to get to the top."

Team manager Garry Taylor said: "We see in John a rider with a very bright future. His first rookie year was very impressive, and there is clearly more to come.

"Suzuki has a history of looking for young riders like John.

"We picked up both Barry Sheene and Kevin Schwantz at early stages of their careers, and both went on to win many races and three world championships with the factory Suzuki team.

"John gives off much the same sort of energy as the young Kevin - obviously very talented, but also very determined to reach the top."

Hopkins was born in Ramona in southern California after his parents, who are from Acton in West London, emigrated shortly before his birth in 1983.

After making his name on a Suzuki in the US, Hopkins, whose father raced in the Isle of Man TT, moved to GPs this year on a Yamaha.

He scored world championship points on a regular basis.