A look at the injury-hit 2011 MotoGP season for Repsol Honda rider, Dani Pedrosa
Dani Pedrosa of the Repsol Honda team is a Spanish MotoGP rider. He debuted in premier class in the 2006 season.
His 2011 MotoGP season started with lingering pain from the 2010 injury at left collarbone and a sprain in ankle from the Japanese Grand Prix. However, he participated in off-season testing held at Valencia and was fourth and fifth respectively in the two-day
test session.
Coming into the 2011 pre-season test sequence, he participated in the first official test held at the Sepang circuit. On the first day, he was third on the times chart, whereas on second he dominated the test day. While on third final day he was sixth but
in overall time sheets, he stood second fastest behind Marco Simoncelli.
In the second winter test at Sepang circuit Pedrosa was feeling fine but still had an arm pump problem. On the first day of the test he was second and continued to sustain his position throughout the session. On all three days he was placed behind his new
teammate Casey Stoner.
While the season was close to start the final pre-season test at Losail, Qatar took place. Despite of his arm pump issue that he was complaining about since the first test, Pedrosa dominated the first day of the test. While on second day he was led by Casey
Stoner and took a second place on final day in overall combined timings.
As the season hit the start from Qatar GP he was focused to perform well. While reviving health issues his left arm was pumped during the last laps of the race which forced him to score third place in the race.
Coming into season’s second at Jerez, Spain, his home event, Pedrosa was hoping to score a win. However, the lack of fitness hampered his performance and let him finish for second position following Jorge Lorenzo.
Following the race he underwent an operation on his right collarbone in order to remove the titanium plates. The fixture plate had blocked his right subclavian artery that caused his arm to pump and lose strength during under pressure.
Making his comeback to the Portuguese GP after surgery, still not fully fit, he claimed an unexpected win. Pedrosa held off Lorenzo and Stoner in the race.
Coming to the Le Mans circuit for the French GP, Pedrosa was in full form and bravely fought for a race win. While running at second position in the race, he tangled up with Marco Simoncelli and crashed by the Italian’s aggressive overtake.
After diagnosis, he was confirmed with a fracture on the right collarbone. He missed crucial championship points at Le Mans. Until then he was third in the 2011 championship rankings. He was called off from racing for a long time. Pedrosa had to miss three
events at Catalunya, Silverstone and Assen. His absence from three events cost him to drop at fifth place in the 2011 world championship points table.
During his absence, HRC were searching to call in substitute for Pedrosa. Apparently, Hiroshi Aoyama and John Hopkins were contacted for the British GP but both of them denied riding for the factory Honda.
While coming to the Dutch TT Assen event, Hiroshi Aoyama was announced as substitute to Pedrosa. Later at the Mugello event, the Spanish rider was in form to resume racing. Though he scored eighth position at the Italian GP but he had the pace to challenge
top contenders.
At Sachsenring he was strong and the left-handed track layout helped him to win the German GP, while just being the second event of his comeback. At Laguna Seca, he again faced fatigue in race and dropped to finish third just before heading for the short
summer break.
Let’s see how he fares in the remainder of the 2011 MotoGP championship.
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