hopkins
Kawasaki joins new tyre tactic.
Kawasaki began the process of adapting its ZX-RR to run the same specification Bridgestone front tyre as world championship leaders Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner, during Monday's post-race test at Misano.
Hopkins out for six to eight weeks.
John Hopkins, who sustained leg injuries during a high-speed Assen qualifying accident, will definitely miss the next two races - and possibly Brno on August 17.
Hopkins out of Laguna, no Melandri yet.
Kawasaki has confirmed that John Hopkins will not be fit enough to compete in the next two MotoGP rounds, but have added that Marco Melandri will not be replacing him.
Hopkins unlikely for Sachsenring.
Following his huge qualifying accident at Assen on Friday, Kawasaki's John Hopkins this morning boarded a flight for Los Angeles, where he will undergo a further medical examination by Dr. Art Ting.
Hopkins out of Assen - and beyond?
John Hopkins will miss Saturday's Dutch TT at Assen due to lower leg injuries sustained in a huge Friday qualifying fall.
Hopkins: I ended up scraping my elbow...
Colin Edwards wasn't the only American to make an amazing save during qualifying at Jerez, with Kawasaki's John Hopkins revealing he stabilised his ZX-RR with his elbow during a near miss of his own.
Kawasaki: Hopkins is one hard rider...
A twelfth placed finish wasn't what John Hopkins had been hoping for on his Kawasaki debut, but given that he rode through 'excruciating' pain from his recent groin injury - and battled severe front tyre problems - it was a mighty effort.
Hopkins heads home for treatment.
The Anglo-American now faces a race against time to be fully fit for the final pre-season test, at Qatar from February 28-29, or at least by the season opener on March 9.
Hopkins injured at Phillip Island.
The Anglo-American, riding a ZX-RR in the wet for the first time, looked to have got the measure of the slick morning conditions as his lap times tumbled - but disaster struck when he got on the gas fractionally too hard at the high-speed first turn, and was catapulted over the handlebars.
FIRST PICTURES: Kawasaki's 2008 livery.
The livery appeared during the opening day of testing at Phillip Island, in Australia, on Wednesday - when new signing John Hopkins also rode with green-and-black leathers for the first time. Hopkins and Anthony West finished the first day of testing 12th and 13th on the timesheets.
Hopkins hitched in Vegas.
New Kawasaki rider John Hopkins married English fianc?e, Ashleigh, at a ceremony in Las Vegas last weekend.
Kawasaki 'benefiting from Hopkins'.
Those positions may not have set any pulses racing, but 'Team Green' insists that lap times weren't a concern and claims to be delighted with the impact former Suzuki rider Hopkins has already made.
<B>Valencia MotoGP test times - Tuesday.</B>
1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 32.348 secs 2. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 33.176 secs 3. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 33.186 secs
Hopkins leaves with podium present.
Starting from seventh on the grid, the Anglo-American made a strong start and was up to fourth by the first corner. He then passed Nicky Hayden to move in to third place on lap four, behind Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa.
Hopkins a 'pretty pleased' eighth, Roberts absent.
Suzuki's John Hopkins qualified in eighth place for tomorrow's Czech Republic Grand Prix, on a day when team-mate Kenny Roberts Jr was only able to complete five laps due to poor health.
Globe Hopper: Brno race.
"What a day. John did really well this morning in the warm-up session, he was second quickest right behind Nicky, so his confidence level was high despite the unlucky starting position of 21st. The weather was ok today, a bit chilly but no rain thankfully.
Globe Hopper: Hello from Holland.
In her latest report on Crash.net , Desiree Crossman reports from today's final qualifying session for the Dutch TT, at Assen... "Hi from the Netherlands!
Hopkins to miss Mugello.
Suzuki's John Hopkins has been ruled out of the Italian Grand Prix after an examination revealed insufficient fusion in his broken thumb, sustained during a first lap fall at Le Mans three weeks ago.
Flying Roberts puts Suzuki fifth.
Team Suzuki rider Kenny Roberts Jr. was in fighting form at Welkom today, the American running as high as second with less than ten minutes remaining, before placing fifth by the chequered flag.
Globe Hopper: Sad news from South Africa.
On the eve of the season-opening Africa's Grand Prix, Desiree Crossman has sadly announced that she and John Hopkins are no longer together and so, after providing an unprecedented insight behind the scenes of MotoGP for over a year, her regular reports will come to a close after this weekend's e
Suzuki 'inspired'.
Kenny Roberts turned heads at Jerez when he put the latest evolution of the GSV-R under Valentino Rossi's 2003 Spanish Grand Prix lap record, and beat the best Suzuki race lap by 1.4secs.