Although still mending from lingering injuries, John Hopkins — the pride of Ramona, California — is set to line-up for this weekend’s 2008 Gran Premio Bwin.com De Espana at 2.748-mile Jerez de la Frontera circuit in the far south of Spain. Aboard his 200-horsepower Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-RR800, Hopkins — a four-time podium finisher aboard a Rizla Suzuki in 2007 — hopes to get back in the fray in Spain, claiming he is now full fit from groin and muscular injuries suffered during the off-season.

"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," explained Hopkins, who placed an off-song 12th at the curtain raising MotoGP round at Qatar. "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. We'll work on tire choice and a good set up and it'll be great to head back to Europe to race."

John Hopkins placed fourth overall in the 2007 MotoGP World Championship, collecting podium finishes in China, Czechoslovakia, San Marino and Spain. Hopkins placed 19th at the 2007 2008 Gran Premio Bwin.com De Espana, having crashed out of the race at the 14.28.00 mark, only to rejoin at 14.29.14.