A look at the profile of MotoGP rider Dani Pedrosa – MotoGP Special
The Spanish Honda rider, Dani Pedrosa, made his first appearance in a World Championship in 2001 when he competed in the 125cc Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix ending up on the 8th position.
Pedrosa was able to end the 2001 season with two podium finishes. He finished third in the 2002 season and in 2003, Pedrosa won the 125cc World Championship Title.
The very next year, he moved up to 250cc World Championship. He was quite unprepared for the season because of an injury he had suffered in 2003 while he was practicing at Philip Island, which had left the 18-year-old with both ankles broken.
Even then, Pedrosa won the South African Grand Prix and was also able to win the world championship title which made him the youngest 250cc world champion. Pedrosa spent the next season in 250cc class as well, clinching yet another world championship title.
2006 marked the beginning of the MotoGP career for Pedrosa. Starting his MotoGP career with Honda, Pedrosa was not a favourite for the critics as they complained that his physique was not strong enough to control and successfully ride a MotoGP bike.
In his very first MotoGP race on March 26, 2006, the Spanish Grand Prix, Pedrosa stood second, thus giving all his critics something to think about. He won his first MotoGP race on May 14, 2006 when he stood first in the Chinese Grand Prix which was held in Shanghai. The second MotoGP win for Pedrosa came in the British Grand Prix which also made him a strong candidate for the world championship. Although he was not able to win any other race during the 2006 MotoGP season courtesy a very serious knee injury that he suffered during free practice, yet he was able to end up 5th in the final ranking with 215 points.
He stood 2nd in the 2007 season with 242 points to his name beating Rossi by just one 1 point. Just like the previous season, he was able to clinch two wins this time as well, in German & Valencian Grand Prix respectively. Pedrosa ended up 3rd in 2008 & 2009 MotoGP seasons.
As earlier, he was hampered in these seasons as well by injuries. In 2010, he won 4 races and rounded up the 2nd place on the grid.
In 2011, Pedrosa managed a podium finish in the first three races of the season; winning the third race of the season, the Portuguese Grand Prix. The French Grand Prix brought more injuries for Pedrosa. This time he suffered a fractured collarbone and grade 1 ankle sprain. Thus, he had to miss the next three races of the season. He started the season again from the Italian Grand Prix where he rounded up on the 8th position. Another season battered by injuries, he ended to 4th on the championship grid with 219 points.
In the most recent season of MotoGP, Pedrosa scored 332 points, the highest score in his MotoGP career. He won 7 races during the 2012 season with a total of 15 podiums.
In his 7 appearances in successive MotoGP seasons, Pedrosa has got close to winning the title numerous times but injuries have always posed a hindrance in his way. Nonetheless, Pedrosa has all the makings of a MotoGP World Champion if luck tilts a little bit to his side.
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