Dani Pedrosa

Dani Pedrosa
Pedrosa at the 2007 Australian Grand Prix
Nationality	Spanish
Born	September 29, 1985 (1985-09-29) (age 26) Sabadell, Spain
Current team	Repsol Honda Team
Bike number	26
Website	danipedrosa.com
Motorcycle racing career statistics MotoGP World Championship Active years 2006–present Manufacturers Honda Championships 0 2011 Championship position 4th (219 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 98 15 56 19 26 1404 250cc World Championship Active years 2004–2005 Manufacturers Honda Championships 2 (2004, 2005) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 32 15 24 9 15 626 125cc World Championship Active years 2001–2003 Manufacturers Honda Championships 1 (2003) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 46 8 17 9 5 566

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Pedrosa and the second or maternal family name is Ramal.

Daniel "Dani" Pedrosa Ramal (born 29 September 1985 in Sabadell, Catalonia, Spain) is a Grand Prix motorcycle racer. Pedrosa grew up in a village near Sabadell called Castellar del Vallès. He is the youngest world champion in 250cc Grands Prix. Pedrosa is 1.58m (5 ft 2in) tall and weighs 51 kg (112.4 lbs).

Career

Early days

Dani Pedrosa started riding bikes at the early age of four, when he got his first motorcycle, an Italjet 50, which had side-wheels. His first racing bike was a minibike replica of Kawasaki, which he got at the age of six and which he used to race with his friends. Pedrosa experienced real racing at the age of 9, when he entered the Spanish Minibike Championship and ended his debut season in second place, scoring his first podium finish in the second race of the season. The next year, Pedrosa entered the same championship, but health problems prevented him from improving his results and he ended that season in 3rd position.

125cc

In 2001, Pedrosa made his World Championship debut in the 125cc class after being selected from the Movistar Activa Cup, a series designed to promote fresh racing talent in Spain, back in 1999. Under the guidance of Alberto Puig, Pedrosa scored two podium finishes in the first season and won his first race the following year, when he finished third in the championship. In 2003, he won five races and won the championship with two rounds remaining, scoring 223 points. In his first championship winning year, Pedrosa scored five victories and six podium finishes. A week after winning the championship, eighteen-year-old Pedrosa broke both of his ankles in a crash during practice at Phillip Island (Australia), ending his season.

250cc

After winning the 125cc Championship, Pedrosa moved up to the 250cc class in 2004 without a proper test on the new bike because his ankles were healing during the off-season. Going into the season unprepared, Pedrosa won the first race in South Africa and went on to clinch the 250cc World Championship title, including rookie of the year honours. In his first season in 250cc class, Pedrosa scored 7 victories and 13 podium finishes. Pedrosa decided to stay for one more season in 250cc class, and he won another title, once again with two races remaining in championship. In 2005, Pedrosa won 8 races and scored 14 podium finishes, despite a shoulder injury he sustained in practice session for Japanese Grand Prix.

MotoGP

Dani Pedrosa on board the Repsol Honda RC211V.

Pedrosa made the move to 990cc MotoGP bikes in 2006, riding for Repsol Honda. Critics said that Pedrosa's tiny stature wasn't strong enough to handle a big, heavy MotoGP bike and successfully race in the premier class. Proving them wrong, he finished second in the opening round at Jerez on March 26, 2006. At his fourth ever MotoGP appearance, on May 14, 2006, during the Chinese Grand Prix race weekend held in Shanghai, he won his first MotoGP race. This win made him the exact equal 2nd youngest winner (tied with the late Norick Abe) in the Premier Class^[1] behind Freddie Spencer. He won his second MotoGP race at Donington Park and became a strong candidate for the MotoGP Championship. It was a memorable victory for Dani, who shared the podium first time with Valentino Rossi in 2nd place. He also took two pole positions in the first half of the season.

Until the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang, Pedrosa was 2nd in the Championship only behind his more experienced team-mate Nicky Hayden. However, he fell heavily during Free Practice and suffered a severe gash to the knee, which practically rendered him immobile. Pedrosa qualified 5th on the grid in that race due to the cancellation of the qualifying session proper due to heavy rainfall. He miraculously managed to finish 3rd in that race, only behind Rossi and Ducati rider Loris Capirossi. However, in the next races, his form dropped and he struggled with the bike, moving him down to 5th place in the MotoGP standings.

His poor performance continued at Estoril. After a promising start, he briefly ran 2nd before being passed by Colin Edwards and then championship leader and teammate Nicky Hayden. On lap 5, he and Hayden were involved in a crash. Pedrosa made a mistake whilst trying to overtake Hayden, slid and crashed out of the race, taking out Hayden on the way. This crash ended his slim chances of winning the championship and also caused Hayden to lose his lead in the championship standings, as Rossi managed to finish 2nd.

However, two weeks later, Hayden recovered to win the championship while Pedrosa managed to finish in 4th place. This result clinched his 5th place in overall standings in his debut season, thus taking the title as Rookie of the Year in MotoGP category, beating fellow rookie and former rival in 250 cc Casey Stoner. At the final (post 2006 season) three day test of 2006 at Jerez Spain, Dani put his 800 cc RC212V at the top of the timesheets (on qualifying tyres) edging out Valentino Rossi by 0.214 seconds. Rossi had been fastest for the first two days of the test. Dani set a time of 1min 39.910 sec around the circuit.

Pedrosa continued to race with Honda in 2007 on their Honda RC212V, the new 800 cc bike. The machine had problems,^[2] and Pedrosa was taken out of races by Olivier Jacque and by Randy de Puniet, but he finished the season in second place behind Stoner and ahead of Rossi. He signed a 2-year contract with Repsol Honda for 2008 and 2009.^[3]

In 2008 Pedrosa's problems with the RC212V continued when he was injured in the pre-season and missed developmental testing, but started the season well by scoring a podium at the first round.^[4] While leading the race and the standings in the German round, he crashed and was injured, keeping him from racing in the following two rounds. Michelin's performance in MotoGP deteriorated, resulting in Pedrosa switching to Bridgestone at the Indianapolis round.^[5][6] He finished third in the standings in 2008.

As in 2008, Pedrosa crashed in the 2009 pre-season and injured himself, keeping him from testing the machine before the start of the season. He placed 11th in the first round, but recovered his fitness in the following rounds.^[7] At the fifth round he injured himself again in practice and then fell during the race, putting him 33 points behind the leader.^[8]

For 2010, Pedrosa reverted to number 26—a number he used when he first entered MotoGP—from number 2 in 2008 and number 3 in 2009. He took this decision to please his fans who had asked him to return to the number he had always used.^[9] Pedrosa won four races in 2010 and finished second in the championship standings behind Jorge Lorenzo.

Injuries

• 2003 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix (125cc) Double fracture in the talus bone of the left foot and a fracture of the right ankle.
• 2005 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix (250cc) Fracture of the left humeral head that affected the supraspinal tendon.
• 2006 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) Small fracture of the small left toe and loss of cutaneous matter on the right knee. 5 stitches in that vertical cut.
• 2007 Turkish motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) Thoracic trauma, blow to the left gluteus and neck trauma.
• 2007 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) Post-traumatic arthritis with inflammation to the small toe of the left foot.
• 2008 Sepang test 2008 (MotoGP) Fracture of the second metacarpal in the right hand, with three diaphyseal fragments, which are the bones that are found in the middle part of the metacarpus.
• 2008 German motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) General inflammation of the left hand with hematomas in the veins of the extensor tendons. Displaced fracture of the distal phalanx of the left index finger. A sprain of the interphalangeal articulation next to the left middle finger. Fracture of the large bone of the left wrist. Sprain of the lateral external ligament of the right ankle.
• 2008 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) Capsular hematoma on the left knee that had to be treated two months after.
• 2009 Qatar test (MotoGP) Fracture of the radius of the left arm and contusion on the left knee that required a skin graft, because the scar re-opened from an operation before Christmas.
• 2009 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) Incomplete fracture of the greater trochanter of the right femur. A fracture without displacement, an injury that requires absolute rest and treatment with painkillers.^[10]
• 2009 December (MotoGP) Underwent an operation to remove a screw from his left wrist.^[11]
• 2010 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) Four-fragment chip fracture of the left collarbone and a Grade 1 ankle sprain.^[12]
• 2011 French motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) Fractured right collarbone.^[13]

Career statistics

By Seasons

Seas	Class	Bike	Team	Race	Win	Pod	Pole	FLap	Pts	Plcd	WCh
2001	125cc	Honda RS125	Telefonica Movistar Honda	16	0	2	0	0	100	8th	–
2002	125cc	Honda RS125	Telefonica Movistar Honda	16	3	9	6	2	243	3rd	–
2003	125cc	Honda RS125	Telefonica Movistar Honda	14	5	6	3	3	223	1st	1
2004	250cc	Honda RSW250	Telefonica Movistar Honda	16	7	13	4	8	317	1st	1
2005	250cc	Honda RSW250	Telefonica Movistar Honda	16	8	11	5	7	309	1st	1
2006	MotoGP	Honda RC211V	Honda-HRC	17	2	8	4	4	215	5th	–
2007	MotoGP	Honda RC212V	Honda-HRC	18	2	8	5	3	242	2nd	–
2008	MotoGP	Honda RC212V	Honda-HRC	17	2	11	2	2	249	3rd	–
2009	MotoGP	Honda RC212V	Honda-HRC	17	2	11	2	5	234	3rd	–
2010	MotoGP	Honda RC212V	Honda-HRC	15	4	9	4	8	245	2nd	–
2011	MotoGP	Honda RC212V	Honda-HRC	14	3	9	2	4	219	4th	–
Total				176	38	97	37	46	2596		3

By class

Class	Seas	1st GP	1st Pod	1st Win	Race	Win	Podiums	Pole	FLap	Pts	WChmp
125 cc	2001–2003	2001 Japan	2001 Valencia	2002 Dutch	46	8	17	9	5	566	1
250 cc	2004–2005	2004 S. Africa	2004 S. Africa	2004 S. Africa	32	15	24	9	15	626	2
MotoGP	2006–Present	2006 Spain	2006 Spain	2006 China	98	15	56	19	26	1404	0
Total	2001–Present				176	38	97	37	46	2596	3

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Class	Bike	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Pos	Pts
2001	125 cc	Honda	JPN 18	RSA 13	SPA 10	FRA 17	ITA 23	CAT 7	NED Ret	GBR 12	GER 11	CZE 8	POR 5	VAL 3	PAC 3	AUS 7	MAL 4	BRA Ret			8th	100
2002	125 cc	Honda	JPN 8	RSA 3	SPA 4	FRA 3	ITA 4	CAT 2	NED 1	GBR 2	GER 7	CZE 2	POR 10	BRA Ret	PAC 1	MAL 3	AUS 5	VAL 1			3rd	243
2003	125 cc	Honda	JPN 8	RSA 1	SPA 4	FRA 1	ITA 2	CAT 1	NED 8	GBR Ret	GER 4	CZE 1	POR 4	BRA 4	PAC 6	MAL 1	AUS	VAL			1st	223
2004	250 cc	Honda	RSA 1	SPA Ret	FRA 1	ITA 2	CAT 2	NED 2	BRA 2	GER 1	GBR 1	CZE 3	POR 4	JPN 1	QAT 2	MAL 1	AUS 4	VAL 1			1st	317
2005	250 cc	Honda	SPA 1	POR 4	CHN 6	FRA 1	ITA 1	CAT 1	NED 2	GBR 4	GER 1	CZE 1	JPN 2	MAL Ret	QAT 4	AUS 1	TUR 2	VAL 1			1st	309
2006	MotoGP	Honda	SPA 2	QAT 6	TUR 14	CHN 1	FRA 3	ITA 4	CAT Ret	NED 3	GBR 1	GER 4	USA 2	CZE 3	MAL 3	AUS 15	JPN 7	POR Ret	VAL 4		5th	215
2007	MotoGP	Honda	QAT 3	SPA 2	TUR Ret	CHN 4	FRA 4	ITA 2	CAT 3	GBR 8	NED 4	GER 1	USA 5	CZE 4	RSM Ret	POR 2	JPN Ret	AUS 4	MAL 3	VAL 1	2nd	242
2008	MotoGP	Honda	QAT 3	SPA 1	POR 2	CHN 2	FRA 4	ITA 3	CAT 1	GBR 3	NED 2	GER Ret	USA	CZE 15	RSM 4	IND 8	JPN 3	AUS Ret	MAL 2	VAL 2	3rd	249
2009	MotoGP	Honda	QAT 11	JPN 3	SPA 2	FRA 3	ITA Ret	CAT 6	NED Ret	USA 1	GER 3	GBR 9	CZE 2	IND 10	RSM 3	POR 3	AUS 3	MAL 2	VAL 1		3rd	234
2010	MotoGP	Honda	QAT 7	SPA 2	FRA 5	ITA 1	GBR 8	NED 2	CAT 2	GER 1	USA Ret	CZE 2	IND 1	RSM 1	ARA 2	JPN DNS	MAL	AUS DNS	POR 8	VAL 7	2nd	245
2011	MotoGP	Honda	QAT 3	SPA 2	POR 1	FRA Ret	CAT	GBR	NED	ITA 8	GER 1	USA 3	CZE Ret	IND 2	RSM 2	ARA 2	JPN 1	AUS 4	MAL C	VAL 5	4th	219

References

1. ^ "Dani Pedrosa". motogp.com. http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Dani+Pedrosa. Retrieved 2008-04-15. 
2. ^ Freeman, Glenn (2007-05-10). "Honda admit mistakes with 800cc bike". Autosport.com. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/58659. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
3. ^ Moody, Toby (2007-09-21). "Pedrosa confirmed until 2009". Autosport. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/62588. 
4. ^ Noyes, Dennis (2008-04-01). "Looking Back on Jerez". SpeedTV.com. http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-looking-back-on-jerez/. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
5. ^ Noyes, Dennis (2008-08-26). "Michelin’s Last Stand (Part I)". SpeedTV.com. http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-michelins-last-stand-part-i//P3/. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
6. ^ "Pedrosa switches to Bridgestone". BBC Sport. 2008-08-31. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7590833.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
7. ^ "Pedrosa top scorer since Motegi". Crash.net. 2009-05-27. http://www.crash.net/MotoGP/News/147469/1/pedrosa_top_scorer_since_motegi.html. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
8. ^ "Scans confirm Pedrosa hip injury". Crash.net. 2009-06-01. http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/147772/1/scans_confirm_pedrosa_hip_injury.html. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 
9. ^ "Dani Pedrosa (Honda) lucirá el '26' "para llegar a lo más alto"" (in Spanish). Europapress (Agencia Europa Press). 2010-03-13. http://www.europapress.es/deportes/motociclismo-00311/noticia-motociclismo-dani-pedrosa-honda-lucira-26-llegar-mas-alto-20100313195712.html. Retrieved 2010-03-21. 
10. ^ "Pedrosa es duda para Montmeló por su lesión" (in Spanish). As.com. 2009-06-02. http://www.as.com/motor/articulo/motociclismo-pedrosa-duda-montmelo-lesion/daimot/20090602dasdaimot_3/Tes. Retrieved 2009-06-02. 
11. ^ "Repsol Honda return to action at Sepang". motogp.com (Dorna Sports). 2010-02-04. http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/repsol+honda+day2+at+sepang. Retrieved 2010-03-21. 
12. ^ "Successful surgery for Dani Pedrosa". motogp.com (Dorna Sports). 2010-10-02. http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/Dani+Pedrosa+undergoes+surgery+in+Barcelona+after+Motegi+crash. Retrieved 2010-10-02. 
13. ^ "Repsol Honda claim one-two, agony for Pedrosa". motogp.com (Dorna Sports). 2011-05-15. http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/Repsol+Honda+riders+review+French+GP. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 

External links

• danipedrosa.com Official website
• El Blog de Dani Pedrosa Pedrosa's Monday blog
• Dani Pedrosa Profile at the official MotoGP website

Preceded by Manuel Poggiali	250cc Motorcycle World Champion 2004–2005	Succeeded by Jorge Lorenzo
Preceded by Arnaud Vincent	125cc Motorcycle World Champion 2003	Succeeded by Andrea Dovizioso

Persondata
Name	Pedrosa, Dani
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1985-09-29
Place of birth	Sabadell, Spain
Date of death
Place of death