Samsung Suzuki's John Hopkins is still in massive pain with the finger he had operated on only a week ago in California but the adrenalin helped to mask the discomfort as he set the second quickest laptime in British Superbike qualifying at Silverstone this afternoon.

The American, who sent his team boss Jack Valentine on a mission to Birmingham to find a new oxygen machine last night, was just pipped to top spot by Michael Laverty on the Swan Yamaha.

"It's pretty sore, I've still got the stitches and everything in it. I had two plates and six screws crammed into a finger seven days ago so it's a little sore but it was good, I got a little taste on the final run of the adrenlin rush as it had been a pain in the ass all weekend dealing with the pain," said Hopkins, speaking to bikesportnews.com this afternoon.

"That last lap I had the adrenalin which got me through Donington and I think the pain will be minimal tomorrow. I thought I had done enough with the last lap but Michael (Laverty) edged me out. We haven't changed anything on the bike, I'm out there doing laps and feeling good."