MotoGP: Dani Perdrosa has not reached his full potential yet, with contenders like Lorenzo & Rossi
Dani Pedrosa, the 24 year old rider from Spain, is one of the best drivers around the world in motorsports. He is the one who would be seen as accelerating his way from the back rows to the front of the grid, on his Repsol Honda bike, at the start of every race. He holds the honour of being the youngest champion in the 250cc class, as he outraced the likes of Casey Stoner in the same class.
Pedrosa, started the motorcycle racing at an early age of four, like many other riders. He soon he made his name in the racing world and was promoted through the ranks in no time, as he came into the 125cc racing at the age of sixteen. He had a slow start in the 125cc class, as he won his first championship in 2003, two years after joining the racing. However, he swept the 2003 season, as he won the championship two races before the end of the season.
After establishing his name in the 125cc, Pedrosa moved further up in the ranks and joined 250cc class in 2004. He came to the season unprepared, as he injured himself at the end of the 125cc season, but he was quick enough to clinch the ultimate victory at the age of 19 years, the youngest ever driver to achieve that mark. Instead of moving further up, Pedrosa stayed for one more season in the same class and won his third championship in a row.
After the major morale booster in the lower classes, Dani Pedrosa finally moved into MotoGP in 2006, with the intentions to challenge the supremacy of Valentino Rossi, who was flying high at that time. The Critics had their doubts about Dani Pedrosa, as they believed that he would not be able to handle the 900cc Rapsol Honda bike, as he was not physically strong enough to control that.
He proved everyone wrong by finishing on the podium in his first Grand Prix in Spain. He also managed to win the first place in the Chinese Grand Prix, for his first ever victory in the Premier Class. The season promised to be a strong one for the youngster, but a series of unfortunate events led him to finish in the fifth place, ahead of his fellow rookie Casey Stoner. This result also led him to win the Rookie of the Year award. Nicky Hayden, his teammate at Repsol Honda won the championships, but Dani Pedrosa showed a lot of class in the first season.
The second season promised to be good for Pedrosa, as Rossi showed signs of weaknesses, and his Yamaha bike was not good enough for him to win the championships. The new bike Honda RC 212V was not good enough either, as Stoner’s Ducati ran like a rocket on the straights of the circuits. Stoner clinched the 2007 season, but Pedrosa finished second, ahead of Valentino Rossi.
In the 2008 season, the problems with Honda RC212V continued, as he struggled on his bike. Despite the bad starts, he led the season for the most part, but eventually the title race came to the choice of tyres. Rossi started the season with Bridgestone, while Pedrosa was on Michelin, whose performance deteriorated as the season progressed. Towards the end of the season, Pedrosa also shifted to Bridgestone, but it was already too late for the Honda rider. He finished in third place, while Rossi won the championships.
The 2009 season was again not an eventful one for the Spaniard. He again crashed in the pre-season, but managed to regain his form in the remaining part of the season. Eventually, he finished third for the second time in a row.
The current season of MotoGP is proving to be good for the Spaniard, but this time he is facing another rival; his compatriot Jorge Lorenzo, with FIAT Yamaha team. However, his bike is letting him down, once again, but he did manage to win one race in the season. However, he is showing consistency as he stood second twice in a row, in the last two races. Despite a big lead at the top by Lorenzo, the season is far from over, as Pedrosa is constantly threatening the fellow Spaniard for the top spot.
Despite showing consistency since his entry into the Premier class, Pedrosa has not been able to clinch the title. Every time, something unfortunate lets him down, as he fails to finish at the top spot. Perhaps he is not able to show his full potential, as the MotoGP fans would definitely see him winning the championship and becoming one of the top-class drivers in motorsports.
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