MotoGP Blog

Autosport report that Hopkins has been fined for his agressive kick and gestures towards Carlos Checa at the end of qualifying at Laguna. While reminiscent of that old videogame favourite Road Rash, his reaction is seen by the authorities as inappropriate.

Hopper was mad as hell, sure. No doubt he reacted in the heat of the moment and lost his head. However, the reaction was a little out of proportion. Checa claims he was slowing for waved yellows. Hopkins makes no mention of yellow flags in his moan in the Autosport piece, but complains about people slowing to a cruise to take the chequered flag and practice starts.

With Kurtis Roberts knocking Melandri off early in the session, there are a few things need working out between the riders before there is a serious accident. A Friday meetin, as in F1, would be sensible. Would it be well attended though?

There is a part of me that loves to see this between riders though - passion, spice, aggression, call it what you will. Hopkins cares about his performance, maybe a little more than Checa these days, who must be soon to retire. A bit of in-fighting between riders is great stuff for the sport - perhaps why the fine was a trifling $2,000.