The 'glass ceiling' that has long separated John Hopkins from his first MotoGP podium is looking ever more fragile - and few, least of all the Anglo-American, would be surprised if he smashes through that invisible barrier this weekend in Jerez.

_{source: crash.net}

Hopkins has finished in fourth position three times during his MotoGP career, most significantly last time out at the season-opening 2007 Qatar Grand Prix - when the Rizla Suzuki rider overcame the pain of an injured wrist to finish a fraction behind Dani Pedrosa.

The message was clear; if Hopkins can put the new, competitive, GSV-R half a second from a podium finish when injured, what can he do when fit? The answer might well come in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, when the Californian hopes to be back to full strength - and knows he can run up front.

"I am ready for this race!" stated Hopper. "I am hoping to be fully fit, unlike Qatar, and to give it all I've got. We tested here a couple of times and I know that I have the pace to run at the front. Jerez has a lot of heavy braking but my hand is ok now, and I've been training really hard in Miami to make sure that I'm 100% when the lights change to 'go' on raceday!"