Hopkins frustrated by crash

Hopkins had just passed Nicky Hayden for fourth when he fell on lap 16. Given the pace shown by fellow Bridgestone runners Toni Elias and Casey Stoner in the second half of the race, Hopkins may well have caught third-placed Colin Edwards but for this error.

"The results don't reflect what a good job the team did today," said team manager Paul Denning.

"John's tyre choice was certainly the best of the selection we had, and without doubt it was a big opportunity missed to finish the same as - or better than - in Qatar.

"He got stuck behind Nicky for quite a few laps, but once past he was immediately after that podium.

"The good news is that he didn't hurt himself and he picked his bike up and finished the race. We showed again that the GSV-R is a decent package and that the results will come."

An ill-timed gust of wind was the root cause of the incident, Hopkins explained.

"I was in a group that was making a bit of a gap, but then I got held up by Nicky," he said.

"I wanted to get past him, but I was having a hard time doing it. It looked like I was following him, but that wasn't what I wanted.

"When I got past him I started to chase down the front three, but the wind then picked up and I got blown sideways by a big gust and the pace I was going, and the lean angle I had, I just lost the front.

"As I say I'm disappointed, but this is a long season and we won't let this faze us."

Hopkins got back on his bike after the incident and continued to finish 19th.