Hopkins ups pace in Le Mans

In-form John Hopkins topped the timesheets in this morning’s third practice session at the French GP in Le Mans.

A best time of 1.35.128 was good enough to claim top spot from Gresini Honda rider Toni Elias, who shrugged off more fierce criticism from Aussie Casey Stoner yesterday to log the second best time.

Hopkins was just 0.060s faster than the Spaniard as he got to grips more with Suzuki’s new upgraded V4 engine. Designed for improved mid-range acceleration, Hopkins told MCN yesterday that the revised motor was a major step forward between 8000 and 14,000rpm.

The American climbed to the top of the timesheets with ten minutes of the session remaining, deposing current world championship leader Casey Stoner who had seized top spot just three minutes earlier with a best of 1.35.245.

The Aussie couldn’t improve on that time in the last ten minutes but he still ended up third fastest, just 0.117s adrift of Hopkins.

Hopkins’ time this morning was good enough to give him the best time at the end of the three free practice sessions.

Big surprise on the second morning was the performance of Japanese rider Makoto Tamada, who logged the fourth best time with a 1.35.276. That was just 0.148s slower than Hopkins, but it is believed the Tech 3 Yamaha rider used a soft qualifying tyre or a soft compound race tyre.

American Colin Edwards was fifth quickest though his session was brought to an abrupt but thankfully painless end when he suffered a massive crash with just eight minutes remaining.

The Texan had topped the timesheets with 21 minutes remaining when he clocked a 1.35.278s lap on his 19th lap.

Five laps later though he was able to shrug off a big high-side with a smile after he crashed out spectacularly at the Dunlop chicane. He walked away but took no further part in the session.

German Alex Hofmann also escaped injury when he crashed his D’Antin Ducati with two minutes remaining. It was his second crash of the weekend.

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden was seventh fastest behind home favourite Randy de Puniet, while Valentino Rossi continued to have a troublesome weekend as he ended up eighth fastest.

Rossi was only 0.296s behind Hopkins but on overall times from the three sessions the 28-year-old was only ninth fastest.

Honda’s return to form yesterday wasn’t mirrored this morning. Having claimed the top three places yesterday afternoon, Honda’s RC212V 800 had a relatively disappointing morning.

Aside from Elias’s second place, Marco Melandri was only 10th and Dani Pedrosa a lowly 12th, but it is likely they were saving their preferred tyres for tomorrow’s race.

Both failed to better their times from yesterday afternoon and Melandr ended up only sixth fastest over the three practice sessions.