John Hopkins has been confirmed a non-starter for next week’s opening round of the World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island in Australia but will be back on track at Imola next month. Hopkins, who broke his hand in a high-side crash on the opening day of the Crescent Fixi Suzuki team’s three-day practice session at the circuit on Monday, will be replaced by Josh Brookes on the Yoshimura-powered GSX-R1000 to race alongside Leon Camier, who makes his debut for the team at the event. After flying back home from Australia to California on Tuesday, Hopkins has been undergoing daily treatment under the close-scrutiny of his doctor and is expected to have an operation to repair it next week. Said Crescent Fixi Suzuki Team Manager Jack Valentine: “John’s having regular hyperbaric chamber-treatment to get the swelling down before having surgery early next week. Therefore he will definitely miss the opening round here at Phillip Island. But, the good news is that he will be fit for Imola.” Further updates to follow…