Fractured bone in right foot and left hip injury still linger, but American will tough it out as usual to race in front of U.S. fans
John Hopkins will make his return to the World Superbike Championship series at the upcoming Miller Motorsports Park round on May 26-28. After suffering a fractured bone in his right foot and an injury to the joint in his left hip in a crash during the aborted first race at Monza, the American was forced to miss last weekend’s Donington Park races in order to let the injuries heal sufficiently enough to allow the possibility of making it to the Miller event. Hopkins and the FIXI Crescent Suzuki team were hoping that he would be fit enough to race at Donington Park, but the lack of movement due to the hip injury forced him to pass on that weekend (incidentally, the rider who took his place at Donington—British Superbike Championship regular Peter Hickman—lost his ride with the MSS Bathams Kawasaki team in the BSB series, after both Kawasaki UK and the MSS team took issue with Hickman taking the wildcard ride with the FIXI Suzuki team).
Hopkins underwent additional scans on the hip in order to diagnose the severity of the injury, but an entire day of tests showed that no significant long-term damage had occurred in the hip joint. However, Hopkins will reportedly still need some painkilling injections in order to deal with the discomfort in both his hip and foot at Miller, but the tough-as-nails Californian is no stranger to racing with injuries.
"I was so disappointed to miss Donington Park, where I'm sure I could have been in that crazy fight for the win!†said Hopkins of last weekend’s barnburner WSBK races. “It's been a really rough ride physically over recent times, and there were some real worries over the hip condition, but I know I have a lot more to give and that my luck has to change for the better. The team, my family and close friends have been really supportive and I just want to get back into what I know I can do best.
"I am fully committed to racing at Miller and I will be doing everything possible from now and up to the race weekend to ensure that I do whatever I can to get the best result possible for FIXI Crescent Suzuki, me and everyone involved. It won't be easy, so I plan to take it step-by-step, enjoy the riding; and build back into it."
Photo Gallery: Hopkins to return to World Superbike at Miller Motorsports Park round - Sport Rider Magazine
Source: http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_12050_hopkins_return_world_superbike_miller/index.html
Vincent Braillard Ernesto Brambilla Wolfgang Brand Alessanro Brannetti Reiner Bratenstein
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