Shocker: John Hopkins gives a finger

John Hopkins twitter photo

I don't know why people keep harping on that old fool Chuck Norris when we have motorcycle racers around.   Suzuki rider John Hopkins opted to have one of his fingers amputated rather than risk not being able to race when the 2012 Superbike season starts at Philip Island.

Trouble for Hopper started last summer when he was called up by Suzuki to fill a wildcard shot in MotoGP for the Czech Grand Prix. What looked to be a simple fall in practice turned into a calvary of six operations with, apparently, the prospect for more.

Hopkins was remarkably upbeat as he posted a picture of his hand on twitter...

Ha ha?....awesome.

The Return

Tracktards also come in the two wheel variety...

Sixth Gear writes:
"My return back to track riding after my infamous crash in Turn 1 at Jennings. Special thanks goes out to Kelly at TTRMotorsports.com for all the hard work the week before putting my bike back together. You're awesome!

All footage was taken on a 2007 GSX-R750 with either a GoPro Hero Wide or Vio POV.1 camera. Track was Jennings GP, on the weekend of 7 Feb 09."






And here is the rest of it.

Superbike SeasonStarts at Phillip Island

The 2009 Superbike season started at Philip Island today. SBK's are a bit like the two wheel equivalent of tin top racing, production based bikes. There is some debate there as to exactly how you define "production based" but generally these are much closer to what you might go out and buy at your friendly motorcycle dealer than MotoGP prototypes.

Ducati, Aprilia, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki and, this year for the first time in decades, BMW who entered their new S 1000 RR with Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus riding. Corser did well in the first race after a disaster in qualifying, in the very first race he started 17 and finished 8th. In race 2 Xaus had the highest top speed at 312 km/h. Nice to see BMW really come out of their super conservative road bike reputation.

The first win went to Haga on a Ducati in race 1 and Ben Spies the Yamaha R1 in race 2.

You can find the race after the jump (use "sbk")






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