John Hopkins targeting Brno return

American John Hopkins has targeted a return to action at the Czech Republic GP in Brno next month after learning the left leg injuries he suffered in Assen last week are more severe than originally aniticpiated.

Further checks with Dr Art Ting in California have confirmed the factory Kawasaki rider suffered a clean break in his left ankle, which needs an operation.

He has a fracture in his lower tibia and a fracture at the top of his left tibia where it connects to the knee and femur bone.

He has also cracked a bone in his left knee while suffered extensive muscle damage in joint, and he needs surgery on that too. He is expected to have an operation on Monday.

Rehabilitation from the surgery is expected to be six to eight weeks, meaning Hopkins is likely to be fit for a return in Brno on August 17, though he can’t put any weight on the leg for thre weeks.

He had initially hoped to return for his home race in Laguna Seca later this month, but that is now out of the question.

Hopkins suffered the left leg injuries when he crashed during qualifying for the Dutch GP in Assen a week ago today. He lost control at over 170mph and slammed feet first into a trackside advertising banner at over 140mph.

The latest injury blow adds to a nightmare season for Hopkins. He missed a part of pre-season testing after a massive crash at Phillip Island in the wet. He later discovered he’d broken his hip in that incident.

Only last month in Barcelona he cracked a fourth vertebra in his back after another massive high-side.