MotoGP news
Hopkins fights through the pain barrier
08 March 2007 / Results / PhotosRizla Suzuki MotoGP racer John Hopkins recorded the fourth fastest time during
today's first practice day for the Qatar Grand Prix at Losail. Hopkins was still suffering the after effects from a heavy crash last month, but the gutsy Anglo-American star overcame the pain to put in a solid day's performance and set himself up nicely for this weekend's MotoGP curtain raiser.
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Today's practice was held in warm and sunny conditions at the 5.380km long Losail International Circuit. Track temperatures reached 42°C, but air temperature was a pleasant 25°C as the circuit was cooled by a strong wind.
John Hopkins commented on today's two practice sessions: "We're pretty happy with today. The pain level in my hand has been quite high so my pain threshold has had to withstand that all day. I've been working hard with the MotoGP clinic and my trainer Johnny Louch, and Team Physio Dean Miller, have been doing a tremendous job getting me back to fitness."
"Bridgestone has also done an exceptional job here this week by bringing some really good tyres, they have stepped it up massively from what we had here at the test. I think this is the first time in my career that I have only used two rear tyres in a whole day! I ran one for this morning session and another for the whole of the afternoon and set my fastest lap-time on the last lap in both cases."
"We still have a couple more things to do to the bike tomorrow but we will be ready for qualifying and I'll be doing every thing I can to bring the pain in my hand down. Then we'll be ready to go racing when Saturday comes!"
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