Roberts ruled out of Catalunya.

Suzuki have announced that Kenny Roberts Jr will not take part in Sunday's GP of Catalunya, due to injuries sustained when he and team-mate John Hopkins collided one week ago at Mugello.

Both fell heavily in the accident, which occurred when KR Jr. 'T-boned' Hopkins at around 90mph. Roberts escaped without any fractures, but was badly knocked about.

Although his injuries have ruled him out of the Catalunyan race, Kenny will still be at the track to support the team.

Hopkins, already carrying sprains from the French GP two weeks earlier, added a wrenched neck to a painful shoulder and arm, and other aches.

"Back to back races make it tough when something like this happens," said the 20-year-old Anglo-American rider. "Like always, my team and I will be looking to get the bike the best it can be for the track, then aiming to keep on getting better results."

Team manager Garry Taylor described the condition of both riders: "Kenny is still very sore, and is being treated by team physiotherapist Dean Miller. John is also stiff and sore, and Dean will be looking after him as well to help him race. He will have a busy weekend."

Despite the loss of Roberts, Suzuki's back-up effort will be redoubled at the Catalunyan GP, the first race this year not preceded by a weekend off.

In the pits and at the track-side, former World Champion Kevin Schwantz and French motorcycling superstar Jean-Michel Bayle will be lending support to the factory team; and on Monday and Tuesday Bayle will join Hopkins and factory rider Akioshi at the same circuit for two full days of testing.

"Kevin's coming as our guest, but I'm sure the whole team will welcome his observations," said Taylor. "When the going is tough, there's no better man to have around than Kevin."

Schwantz, from Texas, won all of his 25 GPs on a factory Suzuki, as well as the 500cc World Championship in 1993.

Bayle's expertise will also be called on, not only as an observer but also for a second time from the saddle, when he, Hopkins and Akioshi spend two days running through all the possible combinations of new ideas and equipment from the factory racing department.

The Catalunyan GP is followed by the Dutch TT on June 28, as the season moves rapidly towards the halfway mark. Roberts is expected to be fit in time for Assen.