Hopkins upsets the pack in FP1

Date published : 29 Jul 2011 - 11:56:21

John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki), running as a wild-card entrant, burst onto the scene at Silverstone with a quickest time of 2 minutes 06.667 seconds in the first free practice session. The American, who is racing in BSB this season, was quickest ahead of Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team), the first British rider in the classification, with Effenbert - Liberty Racing Ducati's Jakub Smrz a close third. An impressive fourth quickest was James Toseland (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team), who is back amongst the Superbike regulars after recovering from his recent injury and determined to make up for lost ground. The three title contenders are for the moment further down the field: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) set fifth quickest time, with Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team) down in 14th and Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) sixteenth.