John Hopkins begins four-week rehab

John Hopkins has started a four-week recovery period after he underwent successful surgery in California yesterday (Thursday).

The factory Kawasaki rider had metal plates removed from his left ankle and left foot, which were inserted after he suffered a massive 175mph crash during practice for the Dutch GP in Assen back in June.

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The operation, performed by renowned racer surgeon Dr Art Ting, also saw the 25-year-old have keyhole surgery to clean up scar tissue and cartilage in his left knee, which he also damaged in the Assen crash.

Hopkins, who had a nightmare 2008 with injury, also had a metal plate removed from his left hand, which he injured three years ago.

Hopkins will now need a four-week rest and recuperation period before he can resume training early next year ahead of the resumption of winter testing in Malaysia in early February.

Hopkins said: “It’s unbelievable; it’s great to be hardware free again after all this time. I have had several injuries in the past and have had to go through a few surgical ordeals since I was 13-years-of-age, but you never really get used to it.

“Now all the metal is out of my body I’m looking forward to some rest and recuperation, and spending time with my wife Ashleigh and our two families during the Christmas holiday period.

“Doctor Ting reckons it will be four weeks before I can start training properly again, but that should give me time to be fighting fit, ready for the start of pre-season testing at the end of January.”