Hopkins expected to 'be right on it'
John Hopkins, who had part of his finger amputated after a long-standing problem, is expected to fly out of the blocks once the new World Superbike season begins.
The Crescent Suzuki rider underwent the procedure after several operations on the finger he originally injured at Brno last year failed to repair the damage.
But even with the digit now partially missing, his team boss Jack Valentine believes the American is ready to set the WSBK championship alight when it starts at Phillip Island at the end of February.
"I spoke to John recently and his hand is coming along very well," Valentine said. "He's been having regular visits to a hyperbaric chamber and that has helped quicken the healing process.
"John rode the last three rounds of the British Superbike Championship with no feeling in the part of the finger he's now had cut off and did pretty well, so we expect that he'll be right on it as soon as he gets on the bike.
"He's now started regular training again, but was pretty fit before the operation, so hasn't lost much time at all.
"There's still lots of work for the team to do before the bikes get crated up for Phillip Island, but it's nothing we cannot manage in the time available.
"The bike design livery is being finalised at the moment and soon we'll be able to see a finished Crescent Suzuki GSX-R World Superbike and announce the team's 2012 partners, which is something we're all looking forward to."
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see you soon Hopper , yer too talented for the WSB. all the v best of luck
Go for it !
breathe of fresh air in BSB i know youll do well in WSB may not be able to pick your nose. but Best of luck
Rumour has it (from a very good source that ) Tommy H was in talks to join Crescent in WSBK but nothing came from it personaly id have loved to see Tommy and Hopper on the Suzukis, On another point cant believe Samsung are not onboard for WSBK what a showroom no doubt its down to the suits who prefair a s---t football club from London
all i did was react to negative criticism towards mr hill and he did at the end of the day get beaten by himself i am a brit racing fan so back the brits more than other nations and my opinion is what it is he made two huge mistakes and lost a title that all his fans said was a foregone conclusion and as i said earlier if the showdown wasn't implemented the title belonged to mr byrne and most of you guys have all stated how great mr hopkins is without giving mr hill the respect he deserved as the winner just as john did bsb not wsb talent give the guy a decent bike you'll see a decent ride mr hopkins has had bundles of great chances mr hill hasn't this won't suit your'e opinions which is fine
@ glyn.... that's really harsh. you're entitled to a point of view but think you are slightly mistaken. Hopper's bike was good before the rain so why risk a crash in wet practise? they have wet race settings for the bike so it was important to make sure the bike wasn't damaged. shame the bike failed and he had to restart it. but he was professional about it and continued the race to get as many points as possible. that's professional.
what happened the race before, glyn? didn't tommy hill overcook the last corner? he was very lucky he didn't cause an accident in the last race with an extremely brave overtake. that's racing, it was exciting. he won. he wasn't injured, unlike Hopper.
take nothing away from hill, he won the bsb and good luck to him next season defending it. i just feel your criticism of Hopper is misguided because he isn't british. he's one heck of a talent, can't wait to see him race wsbk next season. what's not to like about the guy?
you can't criticise hopper. he did nothing wrong, and that last race was the best in years. in a race, somebody wins, and the rest lose. it could have easily been hopper as champion. his class and talent were a joy to watch all season, and his presence was welcomed by every true fan. what don't you like about him glyn??? And, not to labour the point, did you see the man's finger after the race???? Hugely swollen, and it was painful to look at. Without that injury, I wonder if the last three rounds would have been different...............
Glyn689 we will see but one thing for sure it was one hell of a season and i think the BEST race ive seen
@ john you may be right but at the end of the day he didn't fold under pressure mr hopkins did,so moving back up to a higher level may not be right for him either, and don't forget had the showdown not been in place he would have been beaten by mr byrne too so mr hopkins was truly smashed in bsb whatever way you look at it so wsb could be a step to far !!!!!!!!!
glyn 689...Tommy is exactly what you say BSB NOT WSB talent, come on the Hopper
@mosey to lose like what ? he got beaten by himself for refusing to go out in a wet practice the problem that came up in the race would have showed up then ,he's lucky suzuki never sacked just for being a primadona then made a lunge at the last corner over cooked it and lost the bsb title to BSB CHAMPION MR TOMMY HILL nuff said ?
perhaps he'll be 0.006 seconds faster now he's lost some weight :-) Best of luck for the new season Hopper.
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lets hope it's a better season for him,to loose like that must have been sole destroying, but some great racing hope it's as good this time
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