Breaking news: Hopkins in hospital

American John Hopkins has been transferred to a Doha hospital after suffering a massive crash just before the lunch break on the final day of testing in Qatar.

The Rizla Suzuki rider suffered a huge highside at Turn 13 shortly after he had used a soft Bridgestone qualifying tyre to post the best time yet at the test on the final morning.

The Californian was taken by ambulance into Doha for X-rays, and while team boss Paul Denning refused to speculate until medical examinations have been completed, it is feared Hopkins may have broken bones in both hands.

Denning admitted that Hopkins’ hands had swelled but he had spoken to the 23-year-old a short time ago and he was more alert after the accident.

While Hopkins is now almost certain to miss the final test of the winter next week in Jerez, Spain, Denning said he was certain that Hopkins would be fit to compete in the first 800cc MotoGP race back in Qatar on March 10, 2007.

Before the crash, Hopkins had clocked a 1.55.825 on the 28th of 31 laps he completed this morning, which was just 0.2s slower than Casey Stoner’s 2006 990cc pole position time.

He logged his best time on the last of three qualifying tyres he tried in this morning’s session, with the other two in the 1.56.1 bracket.

Just one winter test remains after Qatar before the start of the new season in the Middle East next month. 

The three-day IRTA test in Jerez gets underway on February 23, 2007.    Valentino Rossi was sixth fastest this morning as he remained on race tyres while reigning world champion Nicky Hayden’s Qatar troubles remained.

The Repsol Honda rider crashed twice on a miserable second day yesterday and this morning he was only 14th fastest with a best of 1.57.801.