[spyece]

THE BIG 100 FOR HOPKINS

Kawasaki Racing Team's John Hopkins' celebrates his 100th MotoGP race start, and was greeted after a very wet Shanghai warm-up with a large cake from the team.

Hopkins' Grand Prix career is now in its seventh year, and the fourth round of the 2008 MotoGP championship marks the Anglo-American's centenary of race starts.

Back at home John's mum Linda watched the proceedings on the internet, where the whole Kawasaki team presented the 24-year-old with a 'surprise' chocolate cheese cake as he stepped off his Ninja ZX-RR.

Team members were also given special celebratory 'Hopper 100' pin badges to commemorate the occasion.

Hopkins' qualified in 14th position yesterday and this morning's warm-up session was the first wet practice of the weekend, ahead of what is expected to be an exciting race at the Chinese circuit.