Hopkins fastest in Catalunya clash

Suzuki’s John Hopkins may have just missed out on a podium in the epic Catalunya GP on Sunday, but staying on for tyre testing at the track he won the phoney war with the fastest ever bike lap of the venue.

Hopper, using development Bridgestone qualifying rubber, set a best lap time nearly 0.5s inside Valentino Rossi’s pole time for the race.

He spent the day reeling off laps in preparation for the British GP at Donington Park on June 24, 2007, which has historically proven to be more suited to Michelins in recent years.

Hopkins’ best of 1.41.40 was ahead of Honda’s Toni Elias who was second fastest, race winner Casey Stoner third, and Rossi fourth. 

Rossi was joined on a Michelin Yamaha by Andrew Pitt, as the team ups the pace of development in response to Bridgestone’s progress this year.

Another guest rider at the test was 250 and World Supersport star Anthony West, riding the Kawasaki ZX-RR with regular tester Naoki Matsudo and racer Olivier Jacque both injured.

Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa also came off at the test, uninjured.