Hopper: Well that sucks!!

On a day that didn't go to plan for any of the American riders, Hopkins had made a good start to the race, but it all came to nothing when he was involved in contact with countryman Nicky Hayden at the second turn.

It left Hopkins on the ground with significant damage to his GSV-R, but he managed to bring the bike back to pitlane, where hectic running repairs allowed him to return to the race - albeit two laps behind the leaders.

Setting lap times comparable with the front-runners, Hopkins was able to pick up a single point for 15th place although it was very much a case of 'what might have been' without the opening lap drama.

"What can I say?" Hopper reflected. "It definitely sucks and I'm really disappointed. It was especially disappointing that it was my home Grand Prix and I was out of it so early on.

"Up until the crash everything was going well. I got a good start and went into the turn right up there. Somehow Nicky came wide and I went up the inside of him, but as I did that I guess he didn't see me and as he cut back in we came together. He hit my front brake lever and I went down. I got back to the pits and the crew did an awesome job changing the parts so quickly so that I could get back in the race. I wanted to carry on and use the race as a simulation, but now that I have come in and seen my times compared to others I'm a bit more disappointed - but hey that's racing!

"The Suzuki and the Bridgestone tyres worked really well today, and thanks to Stuart and all the guys for a great job all weekend. I'd like to congratulate Chris on his podium, he should have had one last year so he deserved that today, I'm pretty sure I'd have been there with him as well if other things hadn't have happened!"