Hopkins a 'pretty pleased' eighth, Roberts absent.

Suzuki's John Hopkins qualified in eighth place for tomorrow's Czech Republic Grand Prix, on a day when team-mate Kenny Roberts Jr was only able to complete five laps due to poor health.

Hopkins, second fastest in final free practice, was within 0.8secs of pole position to claim his fourth consecutive top 10 starting position - despite struggling with top speed.

"There are still a few things we can do to improve lap times, but basically we are pretty pleased with how the weekend's going. It's the first time back since I had the surgery on my foot, the wound has healed and I'm at 100 per cent. I'm happy to be back out on the bike fully fit," said John.

"This is a track I really enjoy. Eighth place isn't where we'd like to be - we'd like to be higher - but our slight lack of speed down the straightaway is kind of forcing us to where we are at the moment. There are some things we can do to compensate for it tomorrow and I will be doing my best to get a good finish," he added.

Roberts Jr began this afternoon's session complaining of a lack of energy and as a precautionary measure was taken to Dr Costa's clinic where he was immediately put on an intravenous drip and tests were taken to find out the cause of his illness. It is hoped he will be able to compete in tomorrow's race, which he would start from 17th.

"Kenny did a good lap time on a race tyre at the start of the session, but that was all he was able to do," said team manager Paul Denning. "He has some flu-like symptoms that have made him feel quite bad. He went to Dr Costa's for the balance of the session and had an IV to put some energy back into him. It was hoped he would make it back to get out on a qualifying tyre but Dr Costa preferred to keep him there and get him ready for tomorrow."

"Kenny didn't feel up-to-par on Friday. He thought it was a little bit of jet-lag. He came in today a little bit dizzy just before the qualifying session, so as a precautionary measure we decided to bring in Dr Costa and he felt that it was necessary to do some diagnostic analysis," added team physio Dean Miller. "Kenny was still a bit dizzy so he and Dr Costa decided the best thing would be to have an IV and wait things out. He is now resting comfortably and we will see how things go for tomorrow - one step at a time."

Meanwhile, Suzuki wild-card test rider Nobuatsu Aoki will start his 165th Grand Prix, and first on the GSV-R, from 16th on the grid.