2012 Crescent Suzu🉐ki World Superbike rider John Hopkins has had part of his right ring-finger removed.

The American has been battling to heal from inju🐟ries suffered when he fell during practice for the Brno MotoGP round, in mid-August - but still came within inches of 🌊winning the 2011 British Superbike title.

However Hopper was then forced to withdraw from a planned MotoGP return as a wild-card at Sepang 🐼in October, a🔜fter continued problems with the finger.

"The screws and the plates in the finger have come apart and there's just ♌no movement in the knuckle at all, so I cannot bend the finger," he said at Sepang. "If I get any further damage to the injury it could result in amputation and certainly don't want that!"

Unfortunately,ꦏ partial amputatio🍌n was to prove the only option.

Writing on his of🎃ficial Twitter page @JHopper21, Hopkins posted this picture with the following explanation:

"Well after 6 surgeries & Thousands of $'s s𒉰pent on Rehab etc it's a shame it had t💜o come to this...

"Good news is that it already feels better than it has for monthꦿs & I'll be ready to race in Phillip Island for Rnd. 1! No motivation lost!"

He later joked: "With it being Friday the 13th I should have asked the Doctor to wear the mas𒉰k and dress up like "Jason" as they chopped the finger ; ) Ha Ha"

Hopkins will be joined by Leon ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚCamier for Crescent's first full WSBK season, which begins at Phillip Islaﷺnd Australia on February 26.

"Just been chatting to @JHopp꧟er21 who's feeling really positive after surgery to🤡day and looking forward to @sbk_official RD1 Phil. Island" Tweeted Crescent team manager Jack Valentine.

Hopkins joins the likes of Barry Sheene and Troy Bayliss iജn having part of a finger removed﷽.