Pedrosa battles the pain to take amazing first victory of the season

 In MotoGP, News

Dani Pedrosa made a dramatic effect on the start of the World Championship after achieving his first victory of the season at the Portuguese Grand Prix. The Repsol rider, who returned to competition after undergoing surgery to solve the problems that affected him in the first two races, had a great performance in Estoril and achieved his 50 podium in the premiere class. With this result, he is now only 4 points behind the leader of the Championship, Jorge Lorenzo, who Pedrosa overtook after an intense race. Pedrosa shared the podium with his team mate at the Repsol Honda Team, Casey Stoner. Fourth was Andrea Dovizioso, after imposing himself in the last metres to Valentino Rossi, after an exciting duel.

At the start, Pedrosa overtook Marco Simoncelli and was soon at the wheel of Jorge Lorenzo, who had the pole position. Behind them, Casey Stoner nearly fell when the Italian lost control of his Honda and crashed in the first corners, losing some metres that eventually proved decisive. In fourth place was Valentino Rossi, with the third Repsol Honda of Andrea Dovizioso at his heels.

Pushing from the first moment, Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo set one fastest lap after another in a dramatic race where the Yamaha rider tried everything to open a gap from Pedrosa without success. Very close, the Repsol rider was able to test the good form of his left arm and waited for a few laps to launch his final attack.

Five laps from the end of the race, Dani attacked and overtook Lorenzo at the end of the straight. A little change of pace was enough to get a margin of some tenths. Lap after lap, the Repsol Honda Team rider’s advantage increased up to 2 seconds. In the end, first victory of the season for Dani Pedrosa. A double victory, due to its importance both in the sporting and the personal fronts.

After this race, the three Repsol Honda Team riders reinforce their positions on top of the overall classification. Dani Pedrosa is second, four pints behind the leader, Jorge Lorenzo; Casey Stoner is third, 24 points behind Lorenzo and 20 behind Pedrosa, while Andrea Dovizioso is sixth, tied with the fifth –Hayden- and 35 points behind Lorenzo.

Tomorrow, Monday, the three Repsol Honda Team riders will have a test session at the Estoril track after facing the French round of the Championship in two weeks’ time.

Dani Pedrosa 1st – 45:51.483
“I’m very happy for today’s win, but more than the win I’m happy for my condition and it seems that my surgery was finally successful. I was trying to raise my arm at times as it was cramping with 15 laps to go, I was riding behind Jorge and waiting for the numbness to come together with the loss of power, but it didn’t come! I’m just so happy to see that the surgery has worked, it’s been around six months with this and it’s a big relief. For the race, I was riding at my best, Jorge is amazing here always riding so smooth and fast, I was trying to stay with him and in the end I felt comfortable and tried to make a move and I was successful. I’m very happy to win here, it’s my first win in this track and thanks to all the doctors, my physio and trainer because it’s been hard work and finally we got a win”.

Source: Repsol Media

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