REPRESENTING the BSB championship as a wild card in the World Superbike championship John Hopkins topped the first free practice session at Silverstone.
Sporting number 211, Hopper's fastest lap was a 2:06.667 at the British circuit and the American leads the first of the Brits, Leon Camier. In a returning ride James Toseland finished the session in fourth ahead of series leader Carlos Checa. The Spaniard's rivals for the 2011 title finished way down the timesheets, with Marco Melandri taking 14th and Max Biaggi two places behind in 16th.
Full times from the session below:
1. J. HOPKINS USA Samsung Crescent Racing 2'06.667
2. L. CAMIER GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team 2'06.888 0.221
3. J. SMRZ CZE Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing 2'06.968 0.301 0.080
4. J. TOSELAND GBR BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team 2'06.986 0.319 0.018
5. C. CHECA ESP Althea Racing 2'07.013 0.346 0.027
6. T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad Motorsport 2'07.064 0.397 0.051
7. L. HASLAM GBR BMW Motorrad Motorsport 2'07.100 0.433 0.036
8. M. FABRIZIO ITA Team Suzuki Alstare 2'07.126 0.459 0.026
9. T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike 2'07.188 0.521 0.062
10. S. GUINTOLI FRA Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing 2'07.508 0.841 0.320
11. M. BERGER FRA Supersonic Racing Team 2'07.547 0.880 0.039
12. A. LOWES GBR Castrol Honda 2'07.586 0.919 0.039
13. E. LAVERTY IRL Yamaha World Superbike Team 2'07.687 1.020 0.101
14. M. MELANDRI ITA Yamaha World Superbike Team 2'07.752 1.085 0.065
15. M. AITCHISON AUS Team Pedercini 2'07.787 1.120 0.035
16. M. BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team 2'07.960 1.293 0.173
17. A. BADOVINI ITA BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team 2'08.073 1.406 0.113
18. J. KIRKHAM GBR Samsung Crescent Racing 2'08.100 1.433 0.027
19. N. HAGA JPN PATA Racing Team Aprilia 2'08.247 1.580 0.147
20. R. ROLFO ITA Team Pedercini 2'08.448 1.781 0.201
21. J. LASCORZ ESP Kawasaki Racing Team 2'09.105 2.438 0.657
22. F. LAI ITA Castrol Honda 2'09.418 2.751 0.313
