[kropotkin thinks...] - Hopkins Out Of Brno MotoGP Round With Broken Finger

[Ninjette Newsbot]

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After a busy few weeks of racing, with impressive performances in the BSB and World Superbike championships, John Hopkins' luck ran out at Brno on Saturday morning. The American, appearing at the Czech Grand Prix as a wildcard for Rizla Suzuki, crashed in very wet conditions, breaking one finger and fracturing another, ruling him out of further participation for the weekend.

Hopkins had posted a string of outstanding results, scoring a pole position, a 5th and a 7th as a wildcard in the Silverstone World Superbike round, then a couple of podiums the following weekend at Brands Hatch in BSB, where he is currently 2nd in the championship. His performance so far at Brno had been just as strong, setting the 7th and 10th fastest time in the first two sessions of free practice, well in touch with regular Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista. But the tricky conditions on the entrance to Turn 3 - the same place that Casey Stoner crashed on Saturday morning - caught the American out and saw him ruled out through injury.

Hopkins will now return home to California, where he will undergo surgery to have the injury corrected.

Below is the official press release announcing Hopkins' withdrawal:

Hopkins out of Brno Grand Prix

Publish Date: Saturday, August 13, 2011

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