John🌟 Hopkins has been disqualified fཧrom next weekend's Malaysian GP, as punishment for a first-corner accident at today's Pacific GP.

The S🅠uzuki rider collided with Carlos Checa, causing both to fall, and also Ducati's Troy Bayliss, who was close behind.🃏 American Colin Edwards was also involved, but did not fall.

Hopkins admitted at the time that he had got into the first corner tooไ hot in his enthusiasm to make a good start, and publicly apologised to all the other rider🍬s.

"We'd been running pretty decent times all weekend, and I wanted the best start possible," he said. "I went i🤪nto the first turn too hot, and there was nowhere to go except into Checa. I deeply apologise to him; I made a huge mistake. I also want to apologise to the other riders involved as well."

After the race, however, Race Direc🀅tion elected to punish his error by disqualifying him from the next round, at Sepang in Malaysia next weekend. According to the official st🍌atement, he had "ridden in an irresponsible manner causing danger to other riders."

The team immediately prot🌜ested the decision, but it was confirmed by the FIM stewards later that evening.

A disappointed Hopkins left the circuit witho🥂ut making any further comment.

"We appealed, but it was rejected, and we are deeply disappointed. In ourꦬ opinion, the punishment is overly severe," said team manager Garry Taylor. "There have been many similar incidents in the past that hౠave gone completely unpunished. In our view, it was a normal racing incident. However, we have to accept the authority of the stewards."

As a result, only two Suzukis will take part in next weekends race, ridden by team regular Kenny Roberts Jr., and wild-card entry Akira Ryo, who finished 15th and 10th respectivel๊y in today's race.