Tyco Suzuki’s John Hopkins was on fire during the MCE British Superbike free practice sessions at Donington Park today, and looked like the Hopkins of old, as he ended the day as the quickest rider out on track, after a 1’29.717.

The American was only a tenth off lap record place, and was 0.05 seconds quicker than Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne, and a tenth faster than Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari. It would appear that the Hopper (as he is more affectionally known) has finally found the good form that he has been lacking for most of the season, and his track knowledge seems to be paying off.

At first it was Kiyonari who came storming out of the garage and almost immediately lapped a 1’29.866, and was the first rider to reach the 1’29 bracket. But Byrne was not giving up – and fought back with force, and knocked a tenth off the time set by the BMW rider.

Lap record holder James Westmoreland was knocking tenths of his lap times and was consistently upping the pace, and went up to third on the timing-screens after a 1’30.251. The rider made his come back at Cadwell Park after being out of action for a few weeks with a thumb injury, and looked like he was relishing being back out on track again.

He did slip back a few places to sixth, as both Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes and Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Dan Linfoot went faster than the Northerner. Brookes did not mange a time inside the 1’29’s but was only 0.02 seconds off that accolade.

During the session Hopkins kept up his good form that he found in the earlier free practice, and battled back to re-gain third from Westmoreland, after a 1’30.148, with 11 minutes left on the clock. But seconds later the American propelled his Suzuki to the top of the timesheets after a 1’29.717, to lead a session for the first time this year.

FFX Yamaha’s newest recruit, Filip Backlund was finding his feet on his bike, but crashed, unhurt at Goddards, and ended the outing in 18th on the screens. Backlund was not the only rider to fall at Goddards, Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Howie Mainwaring also took a tumble in the same spot, and was uninjured, but the tall haired rider did round off the top ten, followed by Honda Racing’s Julien Da Costa.

There were some returning riders in the session. Anvil Hire Tag Racing’s Mitchell Carr made a comeback after recovering from a shoulder injury, and David Johnson jumped on the PR Racing bike that was vacated by Keith Farmer and finished the afternoon 28th fastest. Crocked rider GBmoto Kawasaki’s James Ellison bettered his performance from the morning session to end the day in 16th.

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