Hopkins still injured but ready to race.

"We've had some more MRI scans done, which show the injury is still definitely there, unfortunately, but it's not been keeping me from working on my fitness" - John Hopkins.

After finishing 12th during a painful Kawasaki debut at Qatar, John Hopkins is determined to take his ZX-RR further towards the front of the MotoGP field this weekend at Jerez - when he will be fitter, but not totally free from his groin injury.

"The abductor muscle I tore at Phillip Island in January still isn't completely fixed but everything's going okay and I've been training hard," said Hopkins. "I've been in Miami, the sun's been out and I've been taking care of myself before Jerez.

"We've had some more MRI scans done, which show the injury is still definitely there, unfortunately, but it's not been keeping me from working on my fitness. Despite the muscle problem, I really feel 100% ready for the race and I'm really looking forward to it.

"I'm definitely going to improve on the position I got at Qatar," he declared. "We'll work on tyre choice and a good set up and it'll be great to head back to Europe to race."

First free practice at Jerez takes place on Friday morning.

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