MotoGP Phillip Island test: John Hopkins ruled out of final day

A huge high-side crash at over 100mph has ruled John Hopkins out of the final day of action in Phillip Island tomorrow.

The American has a badly torn muscle between his left groin and hip after he lost control of his factory Kawasaki ZX-RR in wet conditions this morning on his 28th lap.

• Get all the latets from the Phillip Island test here

Hopkins was viciously high-sided at Phillip Island’s notorious first corner, and while he was initially able to walk away unaided, he quickly required medical attention back in the paddock.

Accompanied by a circuit doctor, Hopkins was then transferred by car to hospital in Melbourne for precautionary X-rays and scans that revealed no broken bones. But the muscle damage is serious enough to force him to withdraw from tomorrow’s testing, with the former Suzuki rider confident he will be fit to ride in the next test in Jerez in just over two weeks time.

Hopkins will fly to San Francisco tomorrow night (Friday) for intensive specialist treatment and he told MCN: “There’s no way I can ride tomorrow. The doctors said I need between five to six weeks rest but I’m sure I’ll be back in Jerez. It was a big high-side and while I haven’t got a mark or scratch on me, the muscle at the top of my left leg got torn up pretty bad.

“The bike was 90 degrees sideways and when it spat me off that fast flick of the bike is what caused the damage. I was screaming in pain inside my helmet before I’d even hit the deck. I landed pretty hard and I guess I was just going a bit too fast.

“The data shows I was a lot faster than on the previous lap going in to the corner but I was getting a good feeling for the bike in the rain. It’s a shame because I really need to be out there on the bike and testing.”