Former MotoGP star John Hopkins showed the true, race-winning potential of the Ducati Panigale at Thruxton’s MCE British Superbike round but was forced to leave the Hampshire track empty-handed.

After some niggling problems in the opening two free practice session, Hopkins stormed to the top of the timesheets in the third session and then put the Lloyds British Moto Rapido team on the front row for race one but a split exhaust then a crash in race two put paid to a big points haul.

However, Hopkins was able to out-pace the likes Shane Byrne and James Ellison over the weekend and believes he is in a good position to become a fly in the Showdown ointment at Cadwell Park.

“I am more frustrated than disappointed and that is because we did have the podiums in our grasp. Positives – there are loads of them to take away from the weekend. We have had a few technical issues and so we haven’t been able to do long runs, but this is the kind of thing that people get rid of in pre-season testing and we have not had that luxury so we are kind of learning as we go on during the race weekends,” said the British-born Californian.

“ Even so I am extremely happy with the way things are going on the bike, the way it suits my riding style is amazing and I’m enjoying myself on a motorcycle like I haven’t in a long, long time.
 
“There was nothing anyone could do about the component failure in race one, and unfortunately in the second race the safety car came out and spoilt my strategy. I felt a lot more comfortable on the last lap before the safety car came out and I always save my tyres three quarters in and then in the last five laps when they drop off I put the hammer down and that was my plan. With no championship points at stake I thought I would try and hang with Brookes and go for the win but unfortunately I hit the kerb and lost the front.
 
“Even though we haven’t had the results, the positives are amazing and I am really happy with the way things are going. I enjoy Thruxton it but it is not my favourite track, so I'm really hopeful to carry on and get that podium.”