Brno MotoGP: John Hopkins back with a crash

John Hopkins ended this morning’s opening free practice session with the fifth best time, but his long-awaited return to action was marred by yet another crash.

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The American has been out of action since a massive qualifying crash in Assen at the end of June left him with multiple leg injuries, which he is still recovering from.

But the factory Kawasaki rider crashed his ZX-RR just 13 minutes into his comeback, although he was fortunate to escape injury and was seen walking away from the incident.

He went onto post a best time of 1.59.220, which was a massive 1.438s adrift of fastest man Valentino Rossi on the Fiat Yamaha. The session was dominated by Bridgestone, with nine out of the top ten riders on the Japanese rubber.