Hopkins: Kenny took us out then walked away.

The Italian Motorcycle Grand Prix ended in disaster for Suzuki when Kenny Roberts Jr. (#10) collided with his young team-mate John Hopkins (#21) on the third lap of the event, sending them both into the gravel trap and retirement.

Hopper estimated his speed was 80-90mph when the two riders collided.

"It's very frustrating," said the angry Anglo-American, 12th at the time. "I was going along riding my own race and never saw Kenny. I turned in for turn 12 or 13 - I don't know for sure what they call it - and got T-boned. I saved it from the initial impact but then Kenny's bike slid into me and took me down."

The 20-year-old strained his neck in the accident: "My head dug into the gravel trap," he explained.

The team-mates did not speak after the accident so Hopkins was unsure of what caused Roberts to hit him.

"He just walked away from the crash," John added. "I'm sure he knew I was in no mood to talk and he probably wasn't either. The team is working too hard for this kind of thing to happen."

Roberts was taken to the medical centre after the off and although he didn't suffer any fractures, he was badly knocked about, and 'not available for comment'. It is too early to say whether he will be fit to race at the Catalunyan GP next weekend.

"Kenny's been checked over, and there are no broken bones but there is no way of measuring the pain," said Team Manager Garry Taylor. "You have to say it was just one of those racing things. Both are riders are having to use every ounce of skill and aggression at the moment, and in these circumstances this sort of thing can happen."